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An evaluation of Ademola Lookman’s penalty record in the wake of Gian Piero Gasperini’s disparaging comments.

Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has come under fire for his angry comments targeted at Ademola Lookman, following their Champions League exit to Club Brugge. 

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What happened? 

Down 5-2 on aggregate, La Dea won a penalty early enough in the second-half at the Gewiss Stadium and Lookman assumed responsibility. 

His attempt was saved by the veteran Simon Mignolet, and Atalanta did not get a better chance in the game as they exited the competition in disappointing fashion. 

Following the match, a frustrated Gasperini opted to single out Lookman, who only played a quarter of both legs. The Italian accused the Nigerian of being “one of the worst penalty takers” he had ever seen and questioned his decision to take the kick off the designated.

Is Lookman poor at penalties?

“Just over four years ago, I failed in front of the world,” Lookman said in his AFCON acceptance speech, referring to his poor penalty miss in Fulham’s fight against relegation in 2020. 

With that in mind, one could be lulled into taking Gasperini’s comment as fact. However, that would be erroneous. Very. 

In fact, according to Transfermarkt, the miss against West Ham that year was his first in professional football, and he had not missed another until yesterday. 

In that time, his record for Atalanta has been impeccable. Of the four penalties he attempted for La Dea before facing Mignolet, his record stood at 100%, scoring at each turn. 

In comparison, Mateo Retegui and Charles de Ketelaere, who were named in Gasperini’s comment as he designated kickers, did not have a better record. In four penalty attempts for Atalanta, Retegui has scored only two, missing two crucial kicks against Arsenal and Torino. De Ketelaere, on the other hand, has only attempted two career penalties. He scored both.

Meanwhile, Lookman has released a statement countering Gasperini’s comment, as he revealed that the ‘designated taker’ offered him the chance to take the penalty.