UEFA Champions League

Gasperini: Lookman is “one of the worst penalty takers he has ever seen”

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epa11906145 Atalanta's Ademola Lookman performs a penalty kick during the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs 2nd leg match between Atalanta BC and Club Brugge KV at the Bergamo Stadium in Bergamo, Italy, 18 February 2025. EPA/MICHELE MARAVIGLIA

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini has blasted striker Ademola Lookman as “one of the worst penalty takers he has ever seen” after missing a penalty in their defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League.

Lookman came on as a substitute in the second half, replacing Mario Pasalic. It took him a minute to pull a goal back for his side after Brugge went into the second stanza with a 3-0 lead.

The Italian side were then awarded a penalty in the 56th minute after Brugge’s forward Christos Tzolis committed a foul in the area.

Look took the responsibility upon himself to take the penalty and failed to convert his spot-kick as Atalanta went on to lose the game 3-1 at the Gewiss Stadium, ending their participation in the Champions League.

Gasperini insists that Lookman has a poor record with penalties, and he emphasised that either Charles De Ketelaere or Mateo Retegui should have taken the spot-kick.

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

“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.”

Here is what Gian Piero Gasperini had to say:

WATCH: Ademola Lookman’s penalty against Club Brugge