Following Atalanta’s 3-1 defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League knockout stage play-offs, manager Gian Piero Gasperini sharply criticized Ademola Lookman’s penalty-taking talents.
The Nigerian attacker, who had earlier scored Atalanta’s solitary goal in the game, missed a key penalty that would have given his team a chance to come back.
Speaking after the match on Tuesday, Gasperini did not hold back in his assessment of the player’s decision to take the spot-kick.
“Ademola Lookman is one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen,” Gasperini said.
The Atalanta boss revealed that Lookman took the ball despite other designated takers being available.
“He wanted to take the penalty after scoring a goal. He took the ball despite Retegui and De Keteleare being available to take it… I didn’t like what Lookman did,” Gasperini added.
The missed penalty proved costly as Atalanta failed to overturn their deficit, resulting in their elimination from the competition.
