Lookman, who entered the match as a substitute, quickly made an impact by scoring early in the second half. However, his subsequent penalty attempt was saved by goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, a moment that could have altered the course of the game.
In his post-match press conference, Gasperini did not hold back his disappointment, stating, "Lookman was not supposed to take that penalty; he is one of the worst penalty takers I've ever seen." The coach further explained that despite the presence of designated penalty takers Mateo Retegui and Charles De Ketelaere, Lookman took it upon himself to take the shot, a decision Gasperini found unacceptable.
This incident is not the first time Lookman has faced scrutiny over penalty decisions. Notably, during his tenure at Fulham in November 2020, he attempted an unsuccessful Panenka penalty against West Ham United, which drew widespread criticism.
Adding to Atalanta's challenges, team captain Rafael Tolói received a red card late in the match for an altercation with Maxim De Cuyper. Gasperini addressed this incident, emphasizing the importance of maintaining composure: "That was an ugly incident, and we must never lose our heads."
With their Champions League journey concluded, Atalanta, currently positioned third in Serie A, will shift their focus back to domestic competitions.
No comments:
Post a Comment