Gasperini blasts Lookman over penalty miss as Atalanta exits UCL

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini has slammed his striker, Ademola Lookman, calling him “one of the worst penalty takers he has ever seen” after his crucial miss in their 3-1 home defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League on Tuesday

Lookman had given Atalanta hope by pulling a goal back early in the second half after Brugge’s dominant 3-0 first-half lead. However, his missed penalty—saved by goalkeeper Simon Mignolet—ended any chance of a comeback, sealing Atalanta’s elimination with a 5-2 aggregate loss.

Gasperini was openly critical of the Nigeria international, insisting that attacking midfielder Charles De Ketelaere or striker Mateo Retegui should have taken the spot-kick instead.

“Lookman was not supposed to take that penalty. He is one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen,” Gasperini said in his post-match press conference.

“His record is terrible, even in training—he converts very few of them. Retegui and De Ketelaere were available, but Lookman, in a moment of enthusiasm after scoring, grabbed the ball. That was a gesture I did not appreciate at all.”

The Atalanta manager also criticized captain Rafael Tolói, who was shown a straight red card for shoving Maxim De Cuyper following a heated argument over a throw-in.

“That was an ugly incident, and we must never lose our heads,” Gasperini stated. “Atalanta must leave the Champions League with dignity, having played great games against teams like Real Madrid, Arsenal, and Barcelona.”

Atalanta, currently third in Serie A, became the second Italian club to crash out of the Champions League, following AC Milan’s 2-1 aggregate defeat to Feyenoord.

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