By Morakinyo Abodunrin,The Nation
Copyright thenationonlineng
Ademola Lookman will be conspicuously missing when Atalanta face off with European Champions Paris Saint Germain in Paris today in their first Champions League game under new coach Ivan Juric .
Juric explained that the Nigeria International striker was becoming an unnecessary distraction with his awkward attitude following the collapse of his potential summer transfer to Inter Milan, adding the club has already “spoken clearly” to the African Footballer of the Year who has not on the Dea’s travel team for their UCL opener.
According to Football Italia, Atalanta’s preparations have been overshadowed by the on-going controversy around Lookman, who spent the summer trying to force an exit to Inter, then had to limp back to Bergamo.
His attitude in training did not impress the club, with Juric insisting he “should not have to beg” for the Nigerian to play.
“We are relaxed, we already spoke to him clearly, so we just want to focus on tomorrow’s match,” concluded the coach.
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Meanwhile, tonight’s showdown at Parc des Princes will kick-off at 8:00pm Nigerian time (19.00 GMT) as Juric partly revealed Atalanta’s master plan against PSG.
“We are concentrated on how to prepare the game, so at this moment I am not feeling much emotion,” assured Juric on Sky Sport Italia as per Football Italia. “I am curious to see the opponent who deservedly was crowned the best team in Europe. We prepared well to face them and hope to have a great performance. We need courage, we know their strengths are in passing the ball and using their pace in attack.
“However, we’ve seen they tend to struggle more against teams who sit a little deeper, rather than those who face them openly.”
Atalanta have stuttered so far in Serie A, drawing both their opening matches against Pisa and Parma before sweeping Lecce aside 4-1.
There are also some injury problems, as Ederson, Gianluca Scamacca and Sead Kolasinac are still out of action, along with long-term absentee Mitchel Bakker.
“We have many young players who can do well, so I feel confident,” added the coach.
“We deserved more in the other matches, but didn’t get the results to reflect the performance. Against Lecce, we combined good football with goals and the victory, so we needed that confidence booster to go into this game.”
Today’s UCL Fixtures
Olympiakos vs. Pafos
Slavia Prague vs. Bodø/Glimt
Ajax vs. Inter Milan
Bayern vs. Chelsea
Liverpool vs. Atlético
PSG vs. Atalanta
