Atalanta’s recent 3-1 defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League has led to sharp criticism from manager Gian Piero Gasperini towards striker Ademola Lookman. Despite Lookman’s early goal in the second half, he missed a crucial penalty, saved by Brugge’s goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. Gasperini expressed his frustration, stating that Lookman is “one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen,” highlighting his poor record even in training sessions.
Gasperini also noted that designated penalty takers Charles De Ketelaere and Mateo Retegui were available, but Lookman, in a moment of enthusiasm after scoring, decided to take the ball, a gesture Gasperini did not appreciate.
This penalty miss contributed to Atalanta’s exit from the Champions League, with the team trailing 3-0 at halftime and ultimately losing 5-2 on aggregate. Gasperini also criticized captain Rafael Toloi for receiving a red card during the match, emphasizing the importance of maintaining composure
