Gasperini: ‘Atalanta can challenge for Scudetto, Lookman is professional’ | OneFootball

Gian Piero Gasperini admits Atalanta are challenging for the Scudetto after moving to within three points of new leaders Inter, but shrugs off the Ademola Lookman controversy. ‘We are all professionals.’

It has been a tense week for La Dea, who crashed out of the Champions League play-offs against Club Brugge.

Above all, there was a bitter and very public row between the coach and Lookman over the striker’s insistence on stepping up for a spot-kick, despite being what Gasp called “one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen.”

Lookman returned to the starting XI this evening for the first time in almost a month and scored two great goals in the 5-0 victory away to Empoli.

When the Nigeria international was substituted late on, he shook hands with assistant manager Tullio Gritti, but notably not the head coach.

“This is a team that can win or lose, but the performances have generally been good. We won away to Verona and Como, where we saw today that big teams lost, so there are no easy fixtures,” Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia.

It was put to him that Lookman had started anyway despite the controversy, so they had chosen a professional path forward through this moment.

“I don’t know what you mean by professional. We are all professionals here. We had a good game, we scored some good goals,” replied the coach.

Gasperini can dream of Serie A glory with Atalanta

EMPOLI, ITALY – FEBRUARY 23: Gian Piero Gasperini manager of Atalanta BC gestures during the Serie A match between Empoli and Atalanta at Stadio Carlo Castellani on February 23, 2025 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

This result puts them three points off leaders Inter and two behind Napoli, knowing those two clubs go head-to-head next weekend, which could blow the Scudetto race wide open.

“We have an extraordinary position in the table after 26 rounds. The next match is against Venezia, which is again by no means easy, so we hope to get closer to one or both when the head-to-head is next weekend. I think Atalanta’s campaign has been extraordinary and we are very proud of that.

“A lot can also depend on the moments when you play certain fixtures. There are quality teams near the bottom of the table and if you are not at 100 per cent, they can cause you huge problems,” added Gasperini.

“We’re also getting into the latter stages of the season that become decisive with many games starting to weigh on the top clubs. There are many hidden dangers out there, which is what makes Serie A so fascinating.”

Gasperini had always refused to even consider their status as title contenders, but in Week 26, with Champions League and Coppa Italia commitments removed from their plate, he is finally open to the possibility.

“We have been very unlucky with a series of injuries, especially Scalvini and Scamacca who were just coming back and then we lost them again, plus Kossounou. I cannot say that I expected us to be up there, I said earlier this season that if we were still up there with 10 rounds to go, then we’d talk. Now there are 12 to go and we’re up there. We were also top of the table for a while.

“I will be honest, in June after we won the Europa League and had certain plans, I looked around and thought Inter were the only real option for the title, then we’d challenge for the other positions. What Napoli have done is also extraordinary, but if we are up there, then we may as well keep trying.” concluded Gasperini.