“I was there the last time Lookman missed a penalty in the Premier League for Fulham – his boss back then protected him as Gasperini should have done.”
If Gian Piero Gasperini has anything about him, he will apologise publicly this weekend to Ademola Lookman.
He will use Atalanta’s pre-match press conference, ahead of their Serie A trip to Empoli on Sunday, to admit his emotions overwhelmed him after their Champions League exit, at home to Club Brugge on Tuesday. In doing so he will attempt to fix a relationship with one of his best players that right now looks finished.
In case you haven’t been keeping up with current events, Lookman was singled out by Gasperini who labelled him “one of the worst penalty takers” he’d ever seen, in the wake of Tuesday night’s defeat. The 60-year-old Atalanta boss ignored the fact that his Nigerian international forward, the current reigning African Player of the Year, hit a hat-trick in last May’s Europa League final to book his club’s ticket to this season’s Champions League.
That hat-trick didn’t come against any old opposition. It came against the hitherto-undefeated Bayer Leverkusen side that had arrived within touching distance of completing a season without losing in any competition.
This week, Gasperini’s Atalanta side – trailing 2-1 from the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie against Brugge for a place in the last-16 – lost their defensive minds in the first leg. By half-time they were 3-0 down and in pieces. Within 34 seconds of coming on as a second-half substitute, Lookman scored to at least find the footballing equivalent of a beating pulse.
With a renewed sense of purpose, Atalanta went on to earn themselves a penalty. But instead of stepping up to take it, both Mateo Retegui and Charles de Ketelaere – the designated takers – shirked responsibility and handed it to Lookman.
Bear in mind here that Lookman, before Tuesday night, had had a perfect penalty record for Atalanta, scoring all four he had previously taken. But on this occasion he missed, with former Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet pulling off a crucial save to preserve the Brugge win.
Gasperini’s anger should have been directed at the defence which fell apart in the opening 45 minutes. Or Retegui and De Ketelaere who both lost their bottle under pressure. Maybe even defender Rafael Toloi who lost his rag and was sent off, late on. Instead he went for Lookman who decided on Wednesday he simply wasn’t having it.
“Being singled out in the manner I have been not only hurts but feels deeply disrespectful,” the forward said on social media, “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 to 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 even more hurtful.”
Good on Lookman for exercising his right of reply. Years ago a player would have had to suck up the vitriol from his manager in a situation like this. Social media provides an outlet for them to defend themselves and more and more sportsmen and women are taking it.
It isn’t the first time Lookman has missed a crucial penalty. I was at the London Stadium in November 2020 when he missed with a Panenka-style effort with the last kick of the game against West Ham.
Fulham had just come up for the Championship. The point would have been only their fifth in eight games after just one win and a draw.
In my match report I quoted Scott Parker, the club’s boss at the time. He was fuming. But he tempered his remarks and said: “You can miss penalties – of course you can.
“Just like goalkeepers make mistakes, just like centre-halves slip playing out. Or a midfielder who doesn’t track a runner. It’s all the same.
“It’s a learning curve. Ade has had a steep learning curve. “But what do you do now? It’s a test of character for him. I know he will learn from that. We will get around him. And we will move on. He will, too.”
Parker at the time was 39 and still making his way in management. Gasperini is more than 20 years his senior. Make up your own mind as to whose reaction should have been the more measured.
At least the reaction from Atalanta’s fans since Tuesday has been heartening. They are firmly on Lookman’s side.
One banner at the club’s training ground read: “Thanks Lookman, do not be afraid to take a penalty”.
The former Leicester and Fulham forward already has 15 goals this season. Last season he bagged 17 and the campaign before that, 15.
Despite their Champions League nightmare, Atalanta’s title ambitions are still very much alive this season with the club sitting third in their domestic table after 25 games, five points off leaders Napoli.
Only three players have scored more goals in Serie A this season than Lookman’s 10. One of them is his team-mate Retegui with 20.
It defies belief that Gasperini would threaten to torch what remains of their campaign in this way. The hurt in Lookman’s lengthy statement was self-explanatory.
Now the Atalanta coach has to do something about it. Lookman’s contract runs out at the end of next season and Atalanta have the option to extend it for a further 12 months, but the word on the street is that he is leaving this summer, no matter what. Why would you stay after the disrespect of Tuesday night?
Gasperini has it within his gift to repair – or at least limit – the damage with much still to play for. He has to apologise. We all say things in the heat of the moment we regret. Will he put his hands up or will he stuck his head in the sand? The next couple of days will tell us much about the kind of man he is.
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