Nigeria Players Abroad
Gian Gasperini questions on Ademola Lookman’s substitution in Atalanta defeat
By Monsurah Olatunji
Gian Piero Gasperini has defended his decision to replace Ademola Lookman during Atalanta’s narrow 2-1 defeat at home to Inter Milan on Saturday.
Despite starting brilliantly, Atalanta fell 2-0 down to the league leaders, Inter, before Nigeria international Ademola Lookman’s intervention in the second half looked to initiate a comeback.
Gianperini’s side hosted Inter at the Gewiss stadium as they looked to halt Simeone Inzaghi’s men’s run but the Nerazzurri held on to maximum points.
Lookman gave the home side a lifeline when he robbed Federico Dimarco on the edge of the box and set up Gianluca Scamacca to reduce the deficit for Atalanta after trailing goals from Hakan Calhanoglu and Lautaro Martinez.
However, with ten minutes left, head coach Gasperini withdrew Lookman and Koopmeiners and sent on De Ketelaere and Muriel as he looked for a late equalizer which never came.
During the press conference at the end of the encounter, Sky Sports journalist Massimiliano Nebuloni asked Gasperini why he substituted Lookman, who was having a great game.
But the Atalanta coach did not like the question, and he attacked the reporter with his blunt response.
“I replaced him because Muriel came in, didn’t you like him? He didn’t have any problems; he played a great game,”
Gasperini was quoted by Calcio Totale 24.
“But what are you talking about every time? If you go and see all the teams replace strikers, you try to bring in fresh people. Your deductions are wrong.
“I hope they have the same feeling as me, that of being there; these matches must give you the strength to play the next ones with something more.”
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