Atalanta manager, Gian Piero Gasperini has justified his decision to leave African Footballer of the Year, Ademola Lookman, out of the starting lineup for the Supercup 2024-2025 semifinal against Inter Milan.
The match, held at Al-Awwal Park Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday night, ended in a 2-0 defeat for Atalanta. Gasperini opted for Lazar Samardžić, Nicolò Zaniolo, and Marco Brescianini as his attacking trio, relegating Lookman and Charles De Ketelaere to the bench.
Inter Milan broke the deadlock shortly after halftime when Denzel Dumfries scored a spectacular volley three minutes into the second half. With his side trailing, Gasperini introduced Lookman and De Ketelaere in the 56th minute.
The substitution marked a significant milestone for Lookman, as he made his 100th appearance for Atalanta. Despite the changes, Dumfries doubled Inter’s lead in the 61st minute, with his shot bouncing off the crossbar and into the net. Lookman had a late opportunity to pull one back, but his close-range header in the 90th minute was denied by goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
In his post-match conference, Gasperini emphasized the importance of squad rotation to manage player fatigue. “There couldn’t have been a better occasion to give players like Brescianini, Samardžić, and Scalvini the chance to play,” Gasperini said, as quoted by Bergamo eSport. “They are part of the squad but haven’t had many opportunities as starters so far.”
He added, “It’s unrealistic to expect Lookman and De Ketelaere to play 56 consecutive games for 90 minutes.”
Lookman has been a key player for Atalanta this season, starting in 19 of the team’s 27 matches, including 13 in Serie A, five in the Champions League, and one in the UEFA Super Cup. Despite the setback, the Nigerian forward continues to be a vital asset for Gasperini’s side.
