Atletico Boss Explains Lookman Bench Role

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has revealed why Ademola Lookman started on the bench during their recent UEFA Champions League match. The Spanish team defeated Club Brugge four goals to one on Tuesday.

The Nigerian forward entered the game in the second half and provided an assist. Atletico Madrid progressed to the next round with a seven to four aggregate victory. Simeone stated that his decision to keep Lookman on the bench initially was strictly tactical. He chose to start Alexander Sorloth instead to maintain team balance.

“Because he didn’t play. Because Sorloth played,” the Argentine manager explained.

Simeone noted that Lookman is mostly an attacking player who is still learning the defensive side of the game. He pointed out that team understanding is very important for his game plan.

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“He’ll improve that with time, his characteristics are purely offensive. Julián was going to work with the team because he knows us better. There are no big names. There are players. The game lasts 90 minutes. That’s when we saw Griezmann come on in his thirties,” Simeone said.

Lookman came on around the 70th minute and immediately brought pace to the attack. He set up one of the goals scored by Sorloth to help the Spanish side take total control of the game.

The manager also praised Club Brugge for their brave performance. He noted that the Belgian team missed the presence of Nigerian midfielder Raphael Onyedika who was serving a suspension.

“I really like the team, despite the absence of Raphael Onyedika, a key player due to the suspension in midfield. It is a young group with outstanding midfielders. They are very quick in attack, they have very strong and brave forwards. The coach plays an attractive style of football,” Simeone stated.

Former Club Brugge forward Marc Degryse agreed that missing Onyedika affected the team. He felt the suspension changed the final outcome of the two matches.

“Perhaps that yellow card for Raphael Onyedika in the first leg was the most important, and unfortunate, moment of this double encounter against Atlético,” Degryse observed.