Atalanta Coach plays down touchline dispute with Ademola Lookman

Atalanta Coach plays down touchline dispute with Ademola Lookman

Atalanta head coach Ivan Juric has dismissed concerns over a brief on-field disagreement with Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman during the club’s 1-0 UEFA Champions League win over Olympique Marseille on Wednesday night.

Lookman appeared visibly upset after being substituted late in the second half, prompting a tense exchange with Juric, who was seen holding the forward by the arm as the pair exchanged words. The incident drew attention from cameras, with teammates stepping in to defuse the situation.

Juric, however, downplayed the confrontation after the match, describing it as a normal reaction in a high-pressure environment.

“It’s nothing unusual. These things happen all the time,” the coach told reporters. “Some players don’t like being substituted — it happened with De Bruyne at Napoli. It’s emotional, it’s football. We deal with it in the locker room.”

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The Croatian tactician stressed that the priority remains the team’s overall performance, not individual frustrations.

“What matters is Atalanta — the club, the team, the fans. We always do what is best for the team. I understand the reaction, I move on, and so will he,” Juric added.

Lookman, 28, did not speak to the press after the game. The forward, who attempted to force a move away from the club last summer, has struggled to replicate his standout form from last season.

Atalanta now shift focus to Sunday’s Serie A clash against Sassuolo, as they seek to improve their current 11th-place standing on the league table.

 

Atalanta Coach plays down touchline dispute with Ademola Lookman