Ademola Lookman gets public knock from Atalanta coach after penalty miss
Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini has criticised Ademola Lookman after the Nigerian striker missed a penalty in their 3-1 loss to Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. The miss came after Lookman had scored a goal early in the second half, pulling one back for Atalanta. However, his penalty was saved by Brugge’s goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, and Atalanta were knocked out of the competition with a 5-2 aggregate defeat.
Gasperini said that Lookman should not have taken the penalty, adding that he is “one of the worst penalty takers” he has ever seen. The coach also mentioned that Charles De Ketelaere or Mateo Retegui should have taken the spot-kick instead.
“He has a terrible record, even in training, and scores very few penalties,” Gasperini explained in a post-match press conference. “Retegui and De Ketelaere were there, but Lookman, in his excitement after scoring, decided to take the ball. That was a gesture I did not appreciate.”
In addition to criticising Lookman, Gasperini also spoke about Atalanta captain Rafael Tolói, who was sent off with a red card for pushing Maxim De Cuyper following a disagreement over a throw-in. Gasperini said, “That was an ugly incident, and we must never lose our heads.”
Atalanta, who are currently third in Serie A, became the second Italian team to exit the Champions League, following AC Milan. Milan were also eliminated after drawing 1-1 with Feyenoord, losing 2-1 on aggregate.
