We’ll sort it out – Atalanta coach breaks silence on altercation with Lookman
SKAiF NewsNG SNN
By Enitan Abdultawab
Atalanta head coach Ivan Juric has downplayed the brief altercation between himself and Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman during their recent match, insisting that the issue will be addressed privately within the team.
The incident, which occurred late in the second half of Atalanta’s UCL 1-0 victory over Olympique Marseille on Wednesday night, saw Lookman appear visibly frustrated after being substituted, prompting the coach to grab his arm who appeared to have said something that the forward was not having at all.
The 28-year-old, who has been one of Atalanta’s standout performers this season, had been involved in key phases of play before being taken off, which reportedly led to his reaction.
The forward did not comment publicly after the match, though teammates and other staff members were seen attempting to calm him during the incident.
Speaking after the game, Juric confirmed that emotions were high but emphasized that such disagreements are not unusual in competitive situations.
“It’s the usual thing we’ve been commenting on every Sunday. It happened with De Bruyne at Napoli — some players are not happy to be substituted, they don’t react well, and we sort these things out in the locker room”, he told journalists.
“We all know these situations; we’ve all had them as players and as coaches – they happen in the heat of the moment. What matters is Atalanta, the club, the team, and the fans. We do what is good for the team, and I think you need to give your all. I understand, I shake it all off, and we move forward”, he added.
The Super Eagles forward had attempted to leave the team for another club last summer, and has struggled to find his best form this season.
Atalanta now turn their attention to hosting Sassuolo in the Italian Serie A. They currently sit eleventh on the Serie A table.
The post We’ll sort it out – Atalanta coach breaks silence on altercation with Lookman appeared first on Vanguard News.
