Simeone urges Lookman to stay patient during difficult Atletico Madrid spell

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has told Ademola Lookman not to become frustrated as the forward attempts to recapture his best form.

Lookman joined Atletico Madrid from Atalanta during the winter transfer window and made a strong impression during the second half of last season. He scored nine goals and provided four assists in 24 appearances in all competitions.

The former African Footballer of the Year has found this campaign more challenging, however, with two goals in 14 appearances.

Speaking at Monday’s news conference before Atletico Madrid’s meeting with Bayern Munich, Simeone said Lookman could recover in the same way Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann had done after difficult periods.

The Argentine manager said patience, confidence and a continued commitment to training would be central to Lookman’s improvement.

“Well, I don’t know if you spoke with him personally, if he’s playing somewhere he doesn’t want to be,” Simeone said, in quotes relayed by Futbol Fantasy.

“The truth is, I think his season didn’t start the way he would have liked, but Julian also went through a difficult time last year and then came out on top, and Griezmann, remember, when he wasn’t scoring goals, he came back.

“This is work, this is believing in what you do. We believe, as I’ve been saying in almost every press conference about Lookman, in the importance he has for us, because he’s one of the players who has the most one-on-one duels in the final third, in the closing stages, where, obviously, a goal can come. And I have a lot of faith in him.”

Simeone acknowledged that Lookman is not currently performing at his highest level but said dips in form were an unavoidable part of football.

“I don’t want him to get frustrated because he’s not going through his best moment, because it’s part of life, part of the game, part of football, and there are moments you have to go through until one day he starts scoring a goal, starts playing better, starts assisting, starts feeling, obviously, more alive, as players obviously feel,” he added.

Lookman has recorded two goal involvements in the Champions League this season but has not started any of Atletico Madrid’s matches in the competition.

He has appeared as a substitute against Liverpool, Manchester United and Stuttgart.