Following Atalanta’s 3-1 loss to Club Brugge, which sealed their Champions League exit, Ademola Lookman has broken his silence after missing a crucial 62nd-minute penalty. His miss came after scoring a goal that had briefly reignited Atalanta’s hopes of a comeback.
Lookman’s statement reflects his disappointment not just in the defeat but also in being publicly called out by manager Gian Piero Gasperini, who labeled him as “one of the worst penalty takers” and criticized his decision to step up for the spot-kick.
Lookman’s Full Statement
“It saddens me on a day like this to have to write this statement – most of all because of what we have achieved together as a team and as a city.
Being singled out in the manner I have been not only hurts but feels deeply disrespectful, not least because of the immense hard work and commitment I have always put in each and every day to help bring success to this club and to the incredible fans of Bergamo.
In truth, I have dealt with many difficult moments during my time here – the majority of which I have never spoken about because, in my opinion, the team must always be protected and must come first. This makes what happened last night even more hurtful.
Along with our incredible fans, we as a team are hurting too with last night’s result. During the match, the designated penalty taker instructed me to take the penalty; and to support the team, I took responsibility in the moment to do so.
Life’s about challenges and turning pain into power, which I’ll continue to do.”
Gasperini’s Harsh Words
In his post-match reaction, Gasperini was unapologetic, stating:
“Lookman was not supposed to take that penalty. He is one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen. He has a frankly terrible record even in training, he converts very few of them. Retegui and De Ketelaere were there, but Lookman, in a moment of enthusiasm after scoring, decided to take the ball, and that was a gesture I did not appreciate at all.”
Tension in the Atalanta Camp?
Lookman’s emotional response suggests that Gasperini’s public criticism has hit hard. With Atalanta now out of the Champions League, the fallout from this controversy could raise tensions within the squad as they push for a strong finish to the season.
