‘No beef with Ademola Lookman’ – Atalanta boss Ivan Juric plays down substitution incident

Atalanta head coach Ivan Juric has downplayed reports of a fallout with Nigerian winger Ademola Lookman following their 1-0 Champions League victory over Marseille on Wednesday night.

The match, which saw Atalanta secure a crucial win, was briefly overshadowed by a heated moment between Juric and Lookman after the forward was substituted in the second half.

As Lookman made his way off the pitch, he appeared to exchange words with Juric, prompting the manager to grab his arm before being pulled away by a member of the coaching staff.

Speaking after the game, Ivan Juric dismissed the incident, insisting there was no rift between him and the player.

“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 explained in an interview with Sky Sport Italia.

The Atalanta manager emphasised that such moments are part of football’s competitive nature and should not be blown out of proportion.

“We all know these situations; we’ve all had them as players and coaches. They happen in the heat of the moment. What matters is Atalanta, the club, the team, and the fans. We do what’s good for the team. I understand, I shake it all off, and we move forward,” Juric added.

Despite the brief touchline drama, Juric praised his side’s overall performance, noting their discipline and determination in securing the vital three points.