Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini had harshly criticized Ademola Lookman for missing a penalty.
Returning from injury, Lookman was brought on in the Champions League qualifiers to help his team, who were trailing 3-0, make a comeback.
Lookman found the net twice, but one of his goals was ruled out by VAR. Despite his strong performance in limited time, he failed to convert a penalty kick, leading Gasperini to label him as one of the worst penalty takers.
However, today, in his first starting XI appearance after a long time, Lookman scored twice and assisted Mateo Retegui with a well-placed cross, leading to another goal.
Thanks to Lookman’s outstanding contribution, Atalanta secured a 5-0 away victory against Empoli, taking an important step in the title race.
With this performance, Lookman responded to his coach’s criticism through his actions on the pitch. He once again proved himself as an invaluable player for his team.