I didn’t mean to offend Lookman, says Atalanta’s Gasperini
Gian Gasperini, the manager of Atalanta, has stated that he did not intend to offend Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman with his penalty miss remark after the club was eliminated from the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.He stated this on Saturday during the pre-match press conference for Sunday's Serie A match against Empoli.
Lookman, who scored 36 seconds after coming on as his team was trailing 3-0 at home, missed a penalty kick on 61 minutes in the knockout playoff round against Club Brugge.
However, the penalty loss and the 3-1 loss enraged Gasperini, who referred to the winger as "one of the worst penalty-takers" he had ever witnessed.
Lookman fired back at his coach in a statement posted to his Instagram story on Wednesday, calling Gasperini's comments "deeply disrespectful."
Gasperini told journalists ahead of Sunday's match that he did not intend to offend the 28-year-old.
The 66-year-old also stated that Lookman made a "extraordinary impact" and predicted that the free-scoring attacker would add penalty goals to his arsenal.
He explained, "The player [Lookman] was offended, but I did not intend to offend anyone. Lookman played exceptionally well against Brugge; his gesture, however generous, does not alter my opinion.
"I would have liked a strong player like him to make a gesture to De Ketelaere [the club's designated penalty taker], saying, 'Come on, keep the ball, put it in.
"He can become a penalty taker, and it would be an additional scoring ability."
Speaking further, Gaspaerini stated that he may leave the club at the end of the season or when his contract with the Bergamo club expires next year.
"I don't have much time left to complete this; perhaps this is my last chance. As previously stated, there is a beginning and an end," he said.
"At the end of the year, we'll decide whether to let the contract expire or terminate it earlier, but there will be no continuity. "There will be no more renewals or extensions."
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