Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has urged Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman to remain patient and avoid frustration as he works to regain his best form following a difficult start to the season.
Lookman joined Atletico Madrid from Atalanta during the winter transfer window and made an impressive impact in the second half of last season.
The former African Footballer of the Year recorded nine goals and four assists in 24 appearances across all competitions, quickly establishing himself as an important attacking option for the Spanish club.
However, the Nigerian international has found it difficult to maintain that impressive form this season, scoring just two goals in 14 appearances.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday ahead of Atletico Madrid’s Champions League encounter with Bayern Munich, Simeone expressed confidence that Lookman would overcome his current difficulties.
The Argentine manager pointed to Julián Álvarez and Antoine Griezmann as examples of players who experienced similar struggles before rediscovering their form.
According to quotes published by Futbol Fantasy, Simeone said: “Well, I don’t know if you spoke with him personally, if he’s playing somewhere he doesn’t want to be.
“The truth is, I think his season didn’t start the way he would have liked, but Julián also went through a difficult time last year and then came out on top, and Griezmann, remember, when he wasn’t scoring goals, he came back.
“This is work, this is believing in what you do. We believe, as I’ve been saying in almost every press conference about Lookman, in the importance he has for us, because he’s one of the players who has the most one-on-one duels in the final third, in the closing stages, where, obviously, a goal can come. And I have a lot of faith in him.”
Simeone acknowledged that Lookman is currently going through a difficult period but insisted that such challenges are a normal part of football.
The Atletico boss warned against allowing the situation to affect the Nigerian’s confidence, encouraging him to continue working hard until his performances and goal contributions improve.
“I don’t want him to get frustrated because he’s not going through his best moment, because it’s part of life, part of the game, part of football, and there are moments you have to go through until one day he starts scoring a goal, starts playing better, starts assisting, starts feeling, obviously, more alive, as players obviously feel,” Simeone added.
Meanwhile, Lookman has recorded two goal involvements in the Champions League this season but is yet to earn a starting place in the competition.
The Super Eagles forward has so far featured as a substitute against Liverpool, Manchester United and Stuttgart, as he continues to fight for a more prominent role in Simeone’s team.
