Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has expressed his delight at scoring in Atlético Madrid’s 2-0 victory over Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, while admitting that he has endured a difficult start to the season, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Nigerian forward came off the bench in the 71st minute and scored eight minutes later, finishing from close range after Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens parried Jonathan David’s effort into his path.
The strike was Lookman’s first of the campaign in the Champions League and ended a six-match run without a goal, providing a timely boost for the former Atalanta forward as he looks to rediscover his best form.
Speaking after the match, Lookman praised Atlético’s collective performance and expressed satisfaction at making a decisive contribution after coming on as a substitute.
“A big performance from the team, all round defensively and offensively. A big, big performance from us,” he told the club’s media.
The 28-year-old also revealed that Atlético coach Diego Simeone had instructed him to bring energy to the game and contribute in both attack and defence.
“Simeone told me to just bring the energy, try and help the team defensively and offensively,” Lookman said.
Despite his delight at finding the net, the forward acknowledged that he had struggled to produce his best performances at the beginning of the season but insisted that he remained determined to improve through hard work and perseverance.
“Very happy, but I have not really had the best start to the season myself, personally. But keep on going, keep on fighting, keep on working. That is the mindset,” he said.
Lookman also credited his teammates for laying the foundation for his impact, noting that their efforts before his introduction made it easier for him to settle into the game and contribute to the victory.
“I’m very happy to come on and help the team; it’s important. The guys put in a big shift before I came on, which made it easier to slot in and play, so I’m really pleased with the collective effort,” he added.
The victory, according to Lookman, would give Atlético a confidence boost ahead of their next fixture against Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday.
“This win gives us huge confidence heading into our next fixture against Espanyol,” he said.
Lookman will now hope to build on his performance against Manchester United as Atlético seek to maintain their momentum and improve their results in the coming weeks.