Ademola Lookman Responds to Criticism After Missed Penalty in Atalanta’s Champions League Defeat
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Things are not looking too great behind the scenes at Italian club Atalanta after a tough 3-1 loss to Club Brugge in their Champions League second-leg play-off tie on Tuesday night. Despite coming on in the second half and reducing the deficit for Atalanta, Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman missed a crucial penalty in the 62nd minute, which dashed his team’s hopes of progressing to the UCL Round of 16. The loss left Atalanta with a 5-2 aggregate score, eliminating them from the competition.
Atalanta’s manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, did not hold back in his criticism of Lookman’s decision to take the penalty, calling him “one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen.” Gasperini explained that Lookman’s poor penalty record, even in training, was well known, and while players like Retegui and De Ketelaere were on the pitch, Lookman chose to take the ball after scoring earlier, which Gasperini said he did not appreciate.
Lookman’s Response:
In a heartfelt statement, Lookman expressed his disappointment about being singled out, particularly after the hard work and commitment he has put into the team. He stated, “I dey sad say for day like today, I need to write dis statement, mostly becos of wetin we don achieve as team and city.” He went on to say that being singled out in such a manner hurt deeply, as he has always put in the effort to help the club and bring joy to the fans of Bergamo.
Lookman also revealed that while he had faced numerous challenges during his time at Atalanta, most of them were kept private to protect the team’s image. He explained that the criticism of him felt particularly painful because it came after a match in which he was asked to take the penalty by his teammates, and he took on that responsibility to support the team.
Despite the setback, Lookman ended his message on a positive note, saying, “Life na about challenges and turning pain to power, and I go continue to do so.”
This public exchange highlights the intense pressure and emotions that come with high-level football, as well as the commitment players like Lookman have to their teams, even in difficult moments.
