Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has addressed, for the first time, his heated outburst directed at Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman following their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 exit against Club Brugge.
Atalanta suffered a crushing 5-2 aggregate defeat, with the second leg ending in a 3-1 loss after the Nigeria international, who had come on at half-time to reduce the arrears, missed a penalty in controversial circumstances.
After the game, Gasperini launched into a furious rant, calling Lookman “the worst penalty taker I have ever seen.”
In response, Lookman explained that he had only taken the penalty because the designated taker had asked him to do so.
Gasperini backtracks on Lookman criticism
Now, for the first time since the incident, Gasperini has softened his stance. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, the 67-year-old clarified his comments and insisted he never intended to offend Lookman.
“It had an extraordinary impact, everything that came afterward… mine was not meant to be an offensive sentence,” Gasperini said.
“Lookman felt offended, but I didn’t want to offend anyone. He came on with a fantastic approach against Club Brugge.”
Gasperini also suggested that Lookman could refine his penalty-taking skills and become a primary option for the team.
“If he starts training to improve on penalties… with his exceptional skills, Ademola can become our first penalty taker,” he added. “He can develop that ability, which would add another dimension to his goal-scoring.
“I always speak openly in front of the whole team, and it has never been a club issue. He felt offended, but that was never my intention.”
Atalanta will now shift focus to their Serie A clash against Empoli on Sunday as they continue their push for European qualification.
