Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman has responded strongly to public criticism from his coach, Gian Piero Gasperini, after missing a penalty in a UEFA Champions League match against Club Brugge.
The Italian manager openly criticized Lookman after Atalanta’s 3-1 defeat on Tuesday, calling him the “worst penalty taker.”
On Wednesday, Lookman released a statement expressing his disappointment over Gasperini’s remarks, saying that he felt unfairly singled out.
“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 the incredible fans of Bergamo,” Lookman said.
The Nigerian forward clarified that he had not acted against team strategy when he took the penalty. He revealed that the club’s designated penalty taker had actually given him the responsibility at that moment.
“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,” he explained.
Lookman has been an important player for Atalanta, helping them secure the Europa League title last season. However, he noted that his time at the club has not been without challenges. Despite facing difficult moments, he said he had always put the team’s interests above his own.
“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,” he added.
