Atalanta's approach allowed Lookman to finally flourish

London-born winger's Europa League story of glory echoes that of his team - the best-run Italian club of the past decade

- MIGUEL DELANEY

Before Wednesday's Europa League final in Dublin, Gian Piero Gasperini did what he's been doing with Ademola Lookman all season. That was to point out to the Atalanta winger exactly where he wanted him to attack, and where he could hurt the opposition.

Lookman proceeded to do more damage to Bayer Leverkusen than any player has done to the opposition in any European final since 1975, as the Nigerian scored the first hat-trick in a showpiece in 49 years. It wasn’t just the quantity, either, but the quality. Every goal escalated in class in a different way, reaching a crescendo with that third goal that rose into the top corner.

For a feat of such a scale, Lookman was humble afterwards. He pointed to how Gasperini had “simplified” his game, which allowed the forward to “look at my game in a different light, play my game in a different light”. He certainly shone here. Gasperini beamed about a performance that reflected so well on Lookman but also Atalanta as a club.

“Nobody imagined he could make this much progress,” the manager said. “He wasn’t overly prolific in England. I played him in a slightly more attacking role and this season he’s had a great year. Tonight he achieved something that will remain in the annals of football history.”

It’s even more than that, though. Lookman’s beautiful clarity here came from an uncertainty earlier in his career, which played into frustration about a hugely promising player who wasn’t necessarily living up to his potential.