ATLANTA forward Ademola Lookman has responded to Atalanta’s coach Gian Piero Gasperini after he made unsavoury comments about the player being the “worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen.”
During the post-match conference, Coach Gasperini decried the miss in the club’s 3-1 defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League, branding the player “one of the worst penalty-takers I’ve ever seen.”
His miss foiled the Serie A side’s comeback in Bergamo, and Brugge won 5-2 on aggregate and will meet either Inter Milan or Arsenal in the last 16.
Coach Gasperini further said that: “He wanted to take the penalty after scoring a goal. He took the ball despite Retegui and De Keteleare available to take it… I didn’t like what Lookman did.”
However, reacting to the commentary, Ademola Lookman, the reigning African Footballer of the Year, said:
“It saddens me on a day like this to have to write this statement – most of all because of what we have achieved together as a team and as a city.
“Being singled out in the manner I have been not only hurt 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 to the incredible fans of Bergamo.
“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.
“Along with our incredible fans, we as a team are hurting too with last night’s result. 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.
“Life’s about challenges and turning pain into power which I will continue to do. “
Eighteen-Eleven Media