Atletico coach Diego Simeone admits Ademola Lookman is not yet playing the way he wants, with one goal in nine appearances this season.
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has conceded that Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman is finding it hard to get back to his top form. Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of the club's UEFA Champions League game against Manchester United, Simeone said the Nigerian is still working to get it back.
The Argentine was direct about the problem. "Lookman isn't playing the way he wants to be and we want to see him, but he works every day trying to get back to that form," Simeone told reporters. He urged the forward to stay confident and keep taking risks on the pitch, despite the difficulties.
Simeone also set out what he needs the forward to do while he searches for that form:
"He's a good dribbler, we need him to be, to lose the ball, to keep trying."
Simeone also said players go through different phases. "Each player has their own moment. I don't think any player is always at their best; there are injuries," he said.
The slump is a sharp change from what Lookman showed after his January move from Atalanta. In the second half of last season he scored nine goals and provided four assists in 24 appearances in all competitions. This season he has managed one goal in nine appearances. Transfermarkt figures cited by Legit.ng put his contribution since he arrived at 10 goals and four assists in 33 appearances.
Afrik-foot links the dip partly to his role. With Antoine Griezmann's departure and the uncertainty surrounding Julián Álvarez, Lookman has been required to take on a more advanced role in attack, and has featured in different positions rather than consistently on his preferred left wing. The outlet says his only league goal this season came on the left wing in the 3-1 win over Sevilla in August.
His struggles have also shown in matches. He came on as a substitute in the 59th minute of Atletico's 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on September 9, the club's Champions League opener. Afrik-foot reports that he was substituted at half-time in the 2-1 win over Alaves.
Punch reports that Atletico are seeking to respond after that opening defeat in Europe.
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