“Innocent bystander” – Former Liverpool defender weighs in on Lookman-Gasperini feud

Former Liverpool and Scotland defender, Stephen Nicol, has shared his thoughts on the ongoing feud between Atalanta’s head coach and Super Eagles star, Ademola Olajade Lookman, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Nigerian forward missed the first leg of Atalanta’s UEFA Champions League clash against Club Brugge, but made a comeback in the second half of the second leg.

Lookman found the back within twenty seconds of coming on, becoming the fastest-ever substitute in the second half of a Champions League game to score a goal.

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A few minutes later, the former Everton missed a penalty kick, and after the game, Gasperini labelled Lookman as the worst penalty taker he’s ever seen.

Lookman, responding to the coach’s statement, published a response on social media, making it clear he didn’t like the way he was singled out.

Nicol, who now works as a pundit with ESPN, admitted the Nigerian is well within his rights to have hit back at his coach.

“At the same time, the man who was supposed to take the penalty, if I’m the coach he’s my first port of call, ‘Why are you not taking the penalty? I’ve told you you’re the penalty taker. The second port of call is the captain; you’re the captain for a reason, so on the field, when I can’t get anybody’s ear, then you follow my instructions,” Nicol said on ESPN UK.

“Quite honestly, the only person who is innocent to me is Lookman himself because if the guy who’s meant to take it doesn’t take it, somebody else has to take it, so Lookman said I’ll take it.”

“Lookman’s actually an innocent bystander here. It’s the guy who was supposed to take it (De Ketelaere) and the captain on the field (Tolói).”

“I never saw the game, but with the amount of time Gasperini should have done something because you’re 100 per cent looking to make sure as a coach that the right guy is taking it,” the former Liverpool defender concluded.

Lookman’s relationship with Gasperini has apparently hit rock-bottom, and the former Everton forward is set to consider his options at the end of the season as he looks to leave Atalanta.