‘Like Conte-Debruyne’ – Atalanta Coach Juric Explains Heated Clash with Ademola Lookman in UCL Draw vs Marseille

Atalanta coach Ivan Juric has downplayed the altercation between him and Ademola Lookman in their 1-0 win over Marseille on Wednesday.

A 90th-minute goal from Lazar Samardzic helped Atalanta to a 1-0 win when they traveled to Stade Velodrome to play Marseille in the Champions League on Wednesday.

It was a game that should have witnessed more goals, but for the profligacy of the two teams. Charles De Ketelaere missed a penalty in the first half, while Lookman was denied his goal by the VAR due to an offside.

However, away from the result of the game, a particular incident that happened during the game attracted a lot of attention.

Super Eagles attacker Lookman, was taken off for Yunus Musah in the 75th minute, but he did not look happy about the decision and appeared to have muttered something to Juric on his way to the bench.

The Croatian tactician did not take it lightly, and it probably would have probably ended in fisticuffs if not for the intervention of some of the coaching staff.

Watch: Ivan Juric’s Altercation With Ademola Lookman

What Juric Said Afterwards

After the game, Ivan Juric was quick to downplay the issue. He said that Ademola Lookman did not react well to being substituted and even likened it to a recent situation involving Kevin De Bruyne and Antonio Conte.

“It’s the usual thing we’ve been commenting on every Sunday, it happened with De Bruyne at Napoli, some players are not happy to be substituted, they don’t react well, and we sort these things out in the locker room,” Juric said.

“We all know these situations, we’ve all had them as players, as coaches, they happen in the heat of the moment.

“What matters is Atalanta, the club, the team and the fans. We do what is good for the team and I think you need to give your all. I understand, I shake it all off, and we move forward.”

Lookman was forced to stay at Atalanta, despite publicly pushing for an exit in the summer. And since the start of the season, he has not looked happy at the club.

That has affected his performance on the pitch, as he only just scored his first goal of the campaign last week.

Nonetheless, he will be looking to settle the issues between him and his coach as soon as possible.