Atalanta’s manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, has shed light on his decision to bench Ademola Lookman during their 2-0 Supercoppa defeat to Inter Milan in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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The match, a highly anticipated clash, saw La Dea make some unexpected lineup changes. Notable stars like Charles De Ketelaere, Ademola Lookman, and Ederson were sidelined, with Gasperini opting for Nicolò Zaniolo, Lazar Samardzic, and Giorgio Scalvini instead.
Lookman entered the game in the 56th minute, shortly after Inter’s Denzel Dumfries scored with a stunning acrobatic effort from a corner.
Addressing his lineup choices, Gasperini told Sport Mediaset, “This wasn’t an experiment. We’ve had a packed schedule with tough matches. The Supercoppa was an opportunity to test players who have contributed but haven’t played as much.”
He added, “Facing Inter in the semi-final was the right moment to try this approach.”
With the Supercoppa behind them, Atalanta now turns its attention back to Serie A, aiming to push for their first-ever Scudetto.