Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini said his striker Ademola Lookman is “one of the worst penalty takers he has ever seen” after he was denied from the spot in their Champions League defeat to Club Brugge.
Europa League holders Atalanta were up against it following a 2-1 first-leg loss on the road, and Chemsdine Talbi’s brace – as well as a Ferran Jutgla strike – put them 3-0 down by half-time in Tuesday’s second leg.
Lookman pulled one goal back early in the second half as La Dea looked to make a memorable comeback, but he then saw a penalty saved by Simon Mignolet as the Serie A side went out 5-2 on aggregate.
That made Mignolet just the second Brugge goalkeeper to ever save a Champions League penalty, after Ludovic Butelle against Copenhagen in September 2016.
Gasperini singled Lookman out 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 penalty takers I’ve ever seen,” the Italian manager said at his 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.”
Mignolet, Schmeichel, Trubin, Majecki
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Throughout his career across in Europe’s top five leagues, Lookman has taken six penalties in all competitions, scoring four.
His other miss came for Fulham, in a 1-0 Premier League defeat to West Ham in 2020.
Gasperini also criticised Atalanta captain Rafael Toloi, who was shown a late red card for a shove on Maxim De Cuyper after an argument over a throw-in.
“That was an ugly incident and we must never lose our heads,” he said.
“Atalanta must leave the Champions League with dignity, having played great games against the likes of Real Madrid, Arsenal and Barcelona.”
Atalanta, third in Serie A, became the second Italian side to exit the Champions League, following AC Milan, who drew 1-1 with Feyenoord, losing 2-1 on aggregate.
