Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has strongly criticized Ademola Lookman for his missed penalty during their 3-1 Champions League defeat to Club Brugge on Tuesday, a result that confirmed their elimination from the competition.
Lookman, returning from a knee injury that sidelined him for weeks, was introduced at halftime with Atalanta trailing 3-0. He made an immediate impact, scoring just seconds after coming on and reigniting hopes of a comeback.
On the hour mark, Atalanta won a penalty after Juan Cuadrado was fouled by Christos Tzolis. Lookman stepped up to take it, but his effort was saved by Simon Mignolet, ultimately sealing Club Brugge’s 3-1 victory on the night and a 5-2 aggregate win.
Gasperini expressed his frustration in the post-match interview, stating, “Lookman was not supposed to take that penalty. He is one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen.”
The coach added that Lookman’s decision to take the penalty was unplanned, explaining, “He wanted to take it after scoring a goal. He took the ball despite Retegui and De Ketelaere being available. I didn’t like what he did at all.”
Gasperini further criticized Lookman’s penalty-taking ability, revealing, “Even in training, his record is frankly terrible. He converts very few.
This was a moment of enthusiasm, but it was a gesture I did not appreciate.”
Nigerian and Atalanta fans have reacted to Gasperini’s comments, with many calling them unfair.
Some argue that the team’s elimination was already likely before the penalty miss, while others feel that publicly singling out Lookman could negatively impact squad morale.
