Ademola Lookman reflected on his Europa League final heroics by insisting he always imagined starring on such a stage when starting his career at Charlton.
Lookman became the first player to score a final hat-trick in the competition as Atalanta beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 to inflict a first defeat of the season on the Bundesliga champions.
It has been a difficult journey for the London-born forward who plays his international football for Nigeria.
M⚽️⚽️⚽️LA pic.twitter.com/ycHeMySysQ
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) May 22, 2024
Lookman struggled to shine at Everton and RB Leipzig after leaving Charlton and had loan spells at Fulham and Leicester before finding consistency in Italy under veteran Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini.
Asked if he ever imagined enjoying such a successful high-profile night, Lookman replied: “Probably yeah. I’ve always had the confidence in my ability to create and score goals, to help my team-mates and assist them.
“The past few years I’ve been able to take my game to a new level on a more consistent basis. Maybe it would have come earlier.
“But it’s come now and I’m pleased with the progress I’ve made. This is just the beginning and I hope for more nights like this and to get better and better. That’s the key.”
Lookman has scored 30 goals in two seasons at Atalanta, but Gasparini admitted he has been surprised by the 26-year-old’s development in Bergamo.
He said: “We had a senior manager at Atalanta who had worked at Leicester and saw that we had the opportunity to bring him in.
“We thought he was a possible useful player for us, but no-one ever imagined that he could really make this much progress.
“He wasn’t overly-prolific in England but I changed his position a little bit and played him in a slightly more attacking role – and now he has achieved something that will remain in the annals of football history.”
Victory gave unfashionable Atalanta only the second trophy in their 116-year history, six decades on from lifting the Coppa Italia in 1963.
"I cried when the third goal went in"
One of Ademola Lookman''s former youth coaches with an emotional interview after his MOTM performance in a European final ❤️ pic.twitter.com/MW45Mgn3yF
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 22, 2024
After masterminding Italy’s first win in the competition since 1999, Gasparini said: “It’s perhaps one of those footballing fairy tales that very rarely crop up.
“It does give scope for meritocracy and ideas. It shows that it doesn’t only come down to cold, hard numbers and super leagues.
“You can also show faith in other teams that don’t necessarily have huge budgets but can still achieve great things.”
Leverkusen were on the brink of an invincible season having won the first Bundesliga title in their history.
They had gone 51 games unbeaten and will finish their campaign by playing second-tier Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final on Saturday.
Boss Xabi Alonso said: “We had a bad night, it’s a shame, it really hurts in such an important match. They were really intense and better than us.
“It was not our attitude, it was a football thing. But it’s important how we deal with it because we have another big game on Saturday.
“This hurts for sure, but we must deal with this pain in a positive way.
“It’s quite exceptional what we have achieved and we have to be really proud. It’s painful right now, but it is deserved as well.”
[(Shimizu S-Pulse) Weakness]: 1. Shimizu S-Pulse are 13th in the J1 League table. Facing 2nd-placed Kashima Antlers, they will find it hard to win this match due to their declining form, indicating doubtful motivation.2. Shimizu S-Pulse defender Yuji Takahashi and forward Sena Saito will miss this league game due to injuries.3. Shimizu S-Pulse were winless with 2 draws and 3 losses in the last 5 g...
Liverpool table fresh Guehi bidAccording to The Athletic, Liverpool have submitted a fresh bid worth £35 million ($47m) to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. The Reds had earlier seen two bids rejected by the Eagles, but they remain hopeful that this time the offer will be accepted.Fenerbahce eyeing move for EdersonTurkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce are eyeing a move for out-of-favour Manc...
Roma medical for Liverpool fullback TsimikasAS Roma are holding a medical for Kostas Tsimikas today.The Liverpool fullback is leaving Anfield after finding himself third-choice this season behind fellow left-backs Andrew Robertson and Milos Kerkez.La Gazzetta dello Sport says the Greece international is expected in Italy today to finalise his move.Tsimikas will undergo a medical ahead of signing a...
FBL-ENG-PR-CHELSEA-FULHAMMarco Silva has demanded an explanation from the Premier League after lambasting three "shocking" refereeing decisions in Fulham's 2-0 Premier League loss at Chelsea.WHAT HAPPENED?The Whites thought they had taken the lead against their west London rivals Chelsea when 18-year-old Josh King coolly slotted past Robert Sanchez. However, the goal was chalked off by referee Rob...
[(Shonan Bellmare) Strength]: 1. Shonan Bellmare are one of the bottom teams in the table, taking 25 points and being in the relegation zone. They are strongly motivated to grab points.[(Shonan Bellmare) Neutral]: 1. Shonan Bellmare drew the last 4 home games, revealing mediocre home performances.[(Shonan Bellmare) Weakness]: 1. Shonan Bellmare lost 1-0 to Fagiano Okayama on the road in the last g...
Manchester United Training Session And Press Conference - UEFA Europa League Final 2025Chelsea have completed the signing of Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United.WHAT HAPPENED?Garnacho has signed a seven-year contract with the Blues after the two Premier League clubs agreed a deal worth a fixed £40 million fee ($54m) with a 10 per cent sell-on clause, Goal understands. The 21-year-old ha...
Marc Guehi Crystal Palace 2025-26Liverpool have launched a fresh bid for Marc Guehi as they hope that Crystal Palace will finally accept their proposal and agree to sell their star defender before the summer transfer window closes on Monday. The Reds have been linked with a move for the England international throughout the summer and the champions are determined to secure his signature.WHAT HAPPEN...
West Ham United v Lille OSC - Pre-Season FriendlyAston Villa are close to signing West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta on an initial loan with an obligation to buy next summer.WHAT HAPPENED?Villa are on the brink of agreeing a £47 million (€54m/$63m) package for Paqueta which includes a loan fee and add-ons, according to Fabrizio Romano. The report also states the 28-year-old has ac...
[(Nagoya Grampus) Strength]: 1. Nagoya Grampus currently have only 28 points and are near the bottom of the league table. To avoid relegation, they need to earn points.[(Nagoya Grampus) Neutral]: 1. Nagoya Grampus' 7 successive games ended with OVER.[(Nagoya Grampus) Weakness]: 1. Nagoya Grampus lost 2-4 to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in their last Emperor's Cup game, with poor performance.2. In the lates...
Cody Gakpo Liverpool 2025Premier League champions Liverpool have confirmed that star attacker Cody Gakpo has put pen to paper on a new long-term contract, which has extended his stay at Anfield beyond 2028. The Dutchman who joined the club in January 2023, during the Jurgen Klopp era, has established himself as a regular starter under new boss Arne Slot and has now committed his future to the Reds...
- 1 TIPS - Atletico Mineiro (MG) VS Cruzeiro (MG)
- 2 Arsenal or Chelsea to win Premier League? Week 2 overreactions
- 3 Lamine Yamal goes public with rapper girlfriend
- 4 TIPS - SL Benfica VS Fenerbahce S.K.
- 5 'Lord of the Flies mentality' - Herculez Gomez slams USMNT generation’s attitude, points to cultural clash with Mauricio Pochettino
- 6 TIPS - Jeju SK FC VS Gwangju FC
- 7 Real Madrid enter Kobbie Mainoo race! Man Utd facing fight to keep midfielder amid concern over playing time
- 8 TIPS - Puebla FC VS Monterrey
- 9 TIPS - US Cremonese VS US Sassuolo Calcio
- 10 Kobbie Mainoo Informs Manchester United of Desire to Leave on Loan