Legendary Italian forward Allesandro Del Piero has backed Nigeria international forward Ademola Lookman following criticism by his manager Gian Piero Gasperini in the aftermath of their elimination from the UEFA Champions League.
Gasperini said Lookman shouldn’t have taken the spot kick they were awarded in the 1-3 loss to Club Brugge, which saw them get eliminated from the UEFA Champions League.
The Nigerian was introduced in the second half as he marks his return from injury after almost a month out , and he immediately showed his importance by pulling a goal back to bring scores to 3-1.
Atalanta were later awarded a penalty and a chance to further reduce the deficit. Lookman picked up the ball and delivered a poor penalty which was comfortably saved by Simon Mignolet.
His decision to take the spot kick didn’t leave Gasperini happy in anyway and he reacted to the miss in the post match conference branding the reigning Africa Player of the Year as one of the worst penalty takers he has seen in his life.
“Lookman was not supposed to take that penalty, he is one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen,” the Italian manager told a post-match press conference.
The coach said one of the duo of Mateo Retegui or Charles De Ketelaere should have taken the kick rather than Lookman, and voiced his unhappiness with Lookman.
“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 in a statement replied the coach by saying he took the spot kick because the designated taker asked him to do it.
He voiced his unhappiness over being singled out by the coach terming it as disrespect, and World Cup 2006 winner with Italy Alessandro Del Piero agrees he has all right to be angry and disappointed in the words of the coach.
“It is human to make mistakes, including from the penalty spot,” replied the 2006 World Cup winner.
“Aside from the internal dynamics of that team, I would have been very upset by Gasperini’s words in the press conference. I am therefore not entirely surprised that Lookman responded that way, as he is right to do so”.
“He is having an extraordinary campaign and has been put on the chopping block, which risks damaging the rest of the season. We’ll see how the team reacts.”
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
