Hat-trick hero Lookman a symbol of Atalanta's underdog success
Ademola
Lookman was Atalanta's hat-trick hero on the club's greatest ever night in
Dublin as German champions Bayer Leverkusen were vanquished 3-0 in the Europa
League final on Wednesday.
Leverkusen
arrived in the Irish capital unbeaten in 51 games this season and on course for
a remarkable treble.
But it was
Atalanta's rise under Gian Piero Gasperini that finally found its ultimate
reward.
Lookman may be
an unlikely figure to score the first hat-trick in a European final since 1975.
However, the
Nigerian is a prime example of the savvy recruitment and excellent coaching
from Gasperini that has allowed a provincial club to step out from the shadow
of nearby giants AC and Inter Milan.
Born in
England and a product of the Charlton Athletic youth academy, Lookman's first
big break came with a move to Everton before joining RB Leipzig.
But he
struggled for first team opportunities at both clubs and ended up in the lower
reaches of the Premier League in loan spells at Fulham and Leicester.
Lookman only
ended up in Bergamo due to the influence of Atalanta's former head of sport Lee
Congerton, who had previously worked at Leicester.
Now he will
forever be fondly remembered in northern Italy as the architect of the finest
victory in Atalanta's 116-year history.
"No one
ever imagined he could make this much progress," said Gasperini.
"He did
something that will remain in the annals of history. He has carried himself as
an incredible player and a match-winner."
Lookman's
treble took his tally in two seasons with the club to 30.
He also helped
fire Nigeria to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations this year and believes
his career is ready to explode at the age of 26.
"I've
always had confidence in my ability," said Lookman.
"In the
past few years I've been able to take my game to a new level and show that on a
more consistent basis.
"I'm
pleased with the progress I've made but this is just the beginning. I hope for
more nights like this."
- Rough
diamonds -
Lookman is far
from the only rough diamond that Gasperini has polished to turn Atalanta into a
force in Serie A and on the continent.
He formed a
fearsome front three this season with Charles De Ketelaere and Gianluca
Scamacca after their difficult spells at AC Milan and West Ham respectively.
"The
first few conversations I had with him made me look at football
differently," added Lookman.
"He made
it simpler in my mind and made me look at my game in a different light."
Gasperini
reiterated his feeling that it did not take a trophy to vindicate the fine work
he has done over the past eight years.
"I never
believed one trophy would change our journey - the run we have been on is worth
more than one piece of silverware," said the 66-year-old.
"The game
we have played tonight is the result of the journey."
However,
Gasperini did ackowledge that Atlanta's first major trophy for 61 years and the
first of his coaching career was a rare victory for the underdog in a sport
usually dominated by the clubs with the deepest pockets.
"To win
it with Atalanta is perhaps one of the football fairytales that rarely gives
scope for meritocracy," said Gasperini.
"It
doesn't always come down to cold hard numbers or super leagues but shows teams
without huge budgets can achieve big things."
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