Atalanta’s recent Champions League exit was tough, but the real controversy came after the match involving Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman and his boss.

Recall that coach Gian Piero Gasperini’s harsh words about Ademola Lookman came as a shock to many at the club and beyond, Footballrover reports.

Now, Atalanta co-president Stephen Gerard Pagliuca has stepped in to clear the air, admitting that Gasperini’s comments were a mistake that went against the club’s values.

Atalanta Chief addresses rift after Gasperini’s Lookman criticism

The drama unfolded after Atalanta’s 3-1 defeat to Club Brugge, which sealed their Champions League elimination.

During the game, Lookman missed a crucial penalty, and Gasperini didn’t hold back, publicly branding him “one of the worst penalty takers” he had ever seen.

The criticism sparked a major backlash from fans and analysts, forcing the club to respond.

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Pagliuca made it clear that Atalanta does not single out players for blame.

He stressed that Gasperini’s reaction was “emotional” and “not in line with the club’s philosophy.”

However, he acknowledged the mistake but stood by the coach, praising his passion and commitment.

“He made a mistake when he spoke about an individual because at Atalanta, we have a policy: if things go badly, we take the blame, we look at ourselves, at how to do better,” Pagliuca stated, as quoted by Sportmediaset.

“Gasperini’s reaction was emotional, unfortunate, a mistake that went against our policy and something we’re not proud of. But I repeat, Gasp is still a great coach,” he continued.

Lookman proves his worth as Atalanta move on

Despite the controversy, Lookman wasted no time proving his resilience.

In Atalanta’s next league match, the Super Eagles forward delivered a stunning performance, scoring twice in a dominant 5-0 win over Empoli.

Pagliuca pointed to this victory as proof that the club had put the issue behind them.

The Atalanta chief also highlighted the importance of Ademola Lookman and Charles De Ketelaere to the team, emphasising that the team’s success is built on collective effort.

While Gasperini’s comments may have stirred debate, Pagliuca assured fans that Atalanta remains united and focused on their Serie A campaign, where they now sit just three points behind leaders Inter Milan.

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Last Updated on February 26, 2025 3:36 pm by footballrover