Lookman hits back after Gasperini penalty comments: ‘Deeply disrespectful’ | OneFootball

Ademola Lookmansays that being singled out for his penalty miss in Atalanta’s 3-1 Champions League loss to Club Brugge ‘not only hurts, but feels deeply disrespectful’ after coach Gian Piero Gasperini claimed he is ‘one of the worst penalty taker I’ve ever seen’.

Atalanta were knocked out of the Champions League in the play-off round after a 5-2 aggregate loss to Club Brugge. The result was sealed with a 3-1 defeat in Bergamo on Tuesday night.

Lookman scored La Dea’s only goal of the night immediately after coming on at half-time in what was his return from a minor knee injury that has kept him out of three Serie A matches.

However, he missed a chance to reduce the deficit when he stepped up and missed a second-half penalty, despite the fact that he was not the designated set-piece taker.

BERGAMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 18: Simon Mignolet of Club Brugge KV dives as Ademola Lookman of Atalanta shoots and misses from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between Atalanta BC and Club Brugge KV at Gewiss Stadium on February 18, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)

That decision drew an infuriated response from Gasperini in his post-match assessment, claiming that: “Lookman was not supposed to take that penalty, he is one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen.”

“He has a frankly terrible record even in training, he converts very few of them. Retegui and De Ketelaere were there, but Lookman in a moment of enthusiasm after scoring decided to take the ball and that was a gesture I did not appreciate at all.”

Lookman responds after Gasperini’s missed penalty comments

The Nigeria international felt it appropriate to respond to some of the recent comments made about him with a statement on his social media channels, posted on Wednesday.

@Atalanta_BC

He insists that the designated penalty taker had instructed him to take the kick against Club Brugge.

The statement read: “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 hurts 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 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 the responsibility in the moment to do so.

“Life’s about challenges and turning pain into power, which I’ll continue to do.”