Gian Gasperini, coach of Atalanta, has revealed that his intention was not to offend Ademola Lookman, Super Eagles forward, with his penalty miss remark after the club crashed out of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) on Tuesday.
The experienced tactician spoke during the pre-match press conference ahead of the club’s Sunday clash with Empoli.
Lookman, who scored 36 seconds after coming on as his team were losing 3-0 at home, failed to convert a penalty kick on 61 minutes. This attracted the ire of Gasperini who described the winger as “one of the worst penalty-takers” he has ever seen.
Lookman, who returned from injury to add more firepower to Atalanta’s attack in the UCL knockout playoff round the team eventually lost 3-1 to Club Brugge, fired back at his coach.
The 28-year-old said Gasperini’s words were “deeply disrespectful”.
The club hierarchy also weighed in afterward, and a meeting of both camps was reportedly called to clear the air.
At the press conference on Saturday, Gasperini said he did not mean to offend the former Charlton youngster.
The 66-year-old also said Lookman had an “extraordinary impact” and further revealed that he expected the free-scoring attacker to add penalty goals to his arsenal.
“The player [Lookman] felt offended, but I did not mean to offend anyone. Lookman came on in an extraordinary way against Brugge, his gesture, even if generous, doesn’t change what my idea is,” he said,
“I would have liked a strong player like him to have made a gesture towards De Ketelaere [the club’s assigned penalty taker] saying “come on, keep the ball, put it in.
“He can become a penalty taker, it would be an additional scoring ability.”
Gasperini, who has been the coach of Atalanta since 2016, added that he might quit the club at the end of the season or leave when his contract with the Bergamo club ends next year.
It is unclear if the Lookman incident weighed in on the Palermo legend’s decision.
“I don’t have much time left to do this; maybe this is the last chance. As has been said, there’s a beginning and an end,” he said.
“At the end of the year, we’ll see whether to let the contract run out or stop earlier, but there definitely won’t be any continuity. There will be no further renewals or extensions.”
