ATALANTA manager Gian Piero Gasperini has given reasons why he opted for Ademola Lookman as one of his starting attackers in the 2-2 UEFA Europa League draw with Sturm Graz in Austria last night.
Gasperini regularly rotates his forward line as Atalanta chase honours in Italy and Europe, and he explained his choices for last night’s encounter.
The coach had been expected to start with both Gianluca Scamacca and Charles De Ketelaere instead of Super Eagles star Lookman and Luis Muriel, who scored both goals.
“I always try to field the best line-up for the occasion. Muriel and Lookman are in better shape right now than Scamacca and De Ketelaere,” Gasperini said in his post-match interview with Sky Sport Italia.
“Scamacca has the quality to become a truly important player. He just needs to train consistently and put into practice what he’s been working on.”
Gasperini was however frustrated by the draw as Atalanta were pegged back by the hosts who had a player sent off early in the second half but still equalised in the 80th minute.
“We had all the conditions necessary to win and in those circumstances it was all going our way,” Gasperini noted.
“Of course, things are never easy in Europe, but it was still a wasted opportunity. We made it more complicated for ourselves and only had a few dangerous chances at the end.”
With the draw, Atalanta stayed on top of Group D with seven points from three matches, three points clear of second-placed Sporting Lisbon and third-placed Sturm Graz.
