Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has expressed delight at scoring in Atletico Madrid’s 2-0 victory over Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League, while admitting that he has struggled to find his best form at the start of the season.
The Nigerian came on as a substitute in the 71st minute and scored eight minutes later, reacting quickly after United goalkeeper Senne Lammens parried Jonathan David’s effort into his path.
The goal was Lookman’s first in the Champions League this season and ended a six-match run without scoring, providing a timely boost for the former Atalanta forward.
Speaking after the match, Lookman praised Atletico’s performance at both ends of the pitch and expressed satisfaction at making an impact after coming off the bench.
He told the club’s media: “A big performance from the team, all round defensively and offensively. A big, big performance from us.”
The 28-year-old also disclosed that Atletico manager Diego Simeone had tasked him with bringing fresh energy to the game and helping the team in both attacking and defensive situations.
Lookman said: “Simeone told me to just bring the energy, try and help the team defensively and offensively.”
Despite his satisfaction at scoring, the forward acknowledged that his performances had not been at the level he wanted in the opening stages of the campaign. He, however, insisted that hard work and determination remained central to his efforts to improve.
He said: “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.”
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Lookman also credited his teammates for their work before his introduction, saying their efforts helped him settle into the contest and contribute to the victory.
He added: “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.”
The Nigerian believes the victory will give Atletico added confidence as they prepare for their next fixture against Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday.
Lookman said: “This win gives us huge confidence heading into our next fixture against Espanyol.”
The forward will now look to build on his performance against Manchester United as Atletico seek to maintain their momentum and improve their results in the coming weeks.
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