Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini said his striker breathola lookman “is one of the worst penalty customers he has ever seen” after he was refused from the place in their Champions League defeat against Club Brugge.
Europa League holders Atalanta were there opposite the loss of 2-1 first legs on the road, and the brace of Chemsdine Talbi-Even if a Ferran Jutgla-strike was 3-0 in the rest in the second stage on Tuesday.
Lookman pulled a goal back early in the second half when La Dea looked to make a memorable comeback, but he then saw a penalty saved by Simon Mignolet when the Serie A side 5-2 was released.
That made Mignolet only the second Bruges goalkeeper who once saved a Champions League -Penalty, after Ludovic Butelle against Copenhagen in September 2016.
Gasperini spent lookman for criticism after full-time, adding Charles de Ketelaere or Mateo Retegui should have taken the Spot-Kick instead.
“Lookman was not supposed to take that penalty, he is one of the worst penal person I have ever seen,” said the Italian manager at his press conference after the game.
“He has an honestly terrible record, even in training, he converts very little of them.
“Retegui and the Ketelaere were there, but lookman, in a moment of enthusiasm after scoring, decided to take the ball and that was a gesture that I didn't appreciate at all.”
Mignolet, Schmeichel, Truin, Melecki
Which keeper made the most impression on you? @Qatarairways | #Letsfly pic.twitter.com/3xGdchlowq
– UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) 19 February 2025
During his career in Europe's top five competitions, LOOKMAN took six penalties in all competitions and scored four.
His other Miss came for Fulham, in a 1-0 Premier League defeat against West Ham in 2020.
Gasperini also criticized the Atalanta captain Rafael Toloi, who received a late red card for a push on Maxim de Cuyper after an argument about a complication.
“That was an ugly incident and we should never lose our heads,” he said.
“Atalanta must leave the Champions League with dignity and have played great matches against people like Real Madrid, Arsenal and Barcelona.”
Atalanta, third in the Serie A, became the second Italian side that left the Champions League, after AC Milan, who pulled 1-1 with Feyenoord, with 2-1.
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