Gian Piero Gasperini Blasts Ademola Lookman After Atalanta Bow Out of Champions League

Last night, Atalanta were knocked out of the Champions League by an inspired Club Brugge outfit. La Dea’s Belgian opponents enforced their game plan to a tee, and advanced into UCL’s last 16 by an aggregate scoreline of 5-2. However, Gian Piero Gasperini’s post-match comments have created more headlines than their UCL exit, as he labeled his star player as “one of the worst penalty takers.”

Ademola Lookman, who’s the reigning African Player of Year, came into the game as a halftime substitute. At that point, La Dea were already losing the game by a scoreline of 3-0. However, just seconds after coming on, Lookman pulled one goal back with a deft finish. With momentum seemingly shifting, Atalanta pushed forward and won a penalty in the 59th minute after Juan Cuadrado was brought down in the box. It was a golden chance to cut the deficit further, but Lookman stepped up—and saw his effort denied by Simon Mignolet. That miss deflated the belief within the team and the fans, and from that moment on, Atalanta failed to create any real threat. 

After the match, Gian Piero Gasperini didn’t hold back his frustration, making it clear that Lookman wasn’t even meant to take the penalty. “Lookman was not supposed to take that penalty, he is one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen,” he admitted. Gasperini further stated that either one of Mateo Retegui or Charles De Ketelaere was supposed to take the penalty. He said, “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.” 

Penalties have been a nightmare for Atalanta this season, and Lookman’s miss against Club Brugge was just the latest chapter in their struggles from the spot. La Dea’s poor record from 12 yards has already cost them valuable points. Mateo Retegui fluffed his chances against both Arsenal and Torino, with both games ending in frustrating 0-0 draws – one in the Champions League and the other in Serie A. Mario Pasalic also failed to convert in a 2-1 loss to Torino, adding to the team’s woes. 

As for successful takers? The list is alarmingly short. Retegui has managed to score just two of his four attempts, while Charles De Ketelaere remains the only other Atalanta player to find the back of the net from the spot this season. Given their ongoing struggles, it’s no surprise Gasperini was so vocal about Lookman’s miss – it’s a recurring problem Atalanta just can’t seem to shake.