Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has defended his decision to start African footballer of the Year, Ademola Lookman on the bench in their 2-0 defeat to Inter Milan in the Super Coppa Italia.
The 66-year old in a surprise starting eleven opted to leave Nigerian forward Lookman, as well as Belgian playmaker Charles De Ketelaere and Brazilian midfielder Ederson on the bench. They struggled to create much without three of their best players as they lost out on an opportunity to claim silverware.
“We have a lot of players,” he stated. “We have had a very demanding run in the league and it was the right time to test players who have not played much from the start.”
“I didn’t snub the competition; we tried to win and found a very strong team. We made a few too many mistakes.”
After struggling to create a notable opportunity in the game, Gasperini made a triple substitution in the 56th minute, bringing on the three players, with Lookman making his 100th appearance for the club.
The Nigerian international was denied by a great save by Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer, while Ederson also had a goal ruled out due to an offside spotted by the Video Assistant Referees in the build-up.
A double by Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries, secured a spot in the final for Simeone Inzaghi’s men where they will face either Juventus or AC Milan, and also secured a fifth consecutive clean sheet for the Nerazzurri.
Atalanta will not be in action until the 11th of January, when they travel to face Udinese in the Italian Serie A, hoping to secure a victory to maintain momentum at the top of the standings.
Shina Oludare is a distinguished sports journalist and managing editor, renowned for his comprehensive coverage of African football. His dedication to elevating African sports on the global stage has earned him widespread respect, along with numerous accolades for his contributions. A graduate of the LaLiga Business School in Madrid, Oludare’s passion for sports and his influential work in African football journalism have established him as a leading figure in the industry.
