'Nobody got hurt' - Atalanta coach happy to avoid more injuries after losing Lookman

Atalanta's coach, Gian Piero Gasperini, is breathing a sigh of relief after his team's resounding 5-0 victory over Hellas Verona without superstar Ademola Lookman. 

The win snapped a three-match winless streak, but more importantly, it came without any fresh injury concerns, a welcome change for the team that has been plagued by absences, including that of their key forward, Lookman.

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Lookman, who has been a vital part of Atalanta's attack, has been out of action since January 25, when he was substituted in the 78th minute of their 2-1 win against Como. 

In his absence, Mateo Retegui stepped up in remarkable fashion, bagging four goals, while midfielder Ederson added another to complete the rout.

After the game, Gasperini expressed his relief at avoiding further injuries to his squad. 

"Today, for the first time in weeks, nobody else got hurt," he stated, according to Football Italia, noting the importance of player availability. "That is the most important thing for us."

"We had the game on the right track in the first half, while in the second we got to introduce some different players and avoid some further injuries." 

The Atalanta boss also highlighted the tactical flexibility that Lookman's absence allowed, leading to the deployment of Charles De Ketelaere on the left flank. 

He elaborated on the tactical adjustments made due to Lookman's injury, with the Belgian attacker thriving in this new role.

 "When Lookman is fit, both of them [Lookman and De Ketelaere] play on the flank of their weaker foot,” he stated per Pulse Sports Nigeria report.

“But during the course of a match, they can swap places,” the Italian gaffer added. 

This tactical versatility proved crucial in Atalanta's dominant performance against Verona, showing the team's ability to adapt and thrive even in the absence of key players. 

The win provides a much-needed boost for Atalanta as they now switch focus to the UEFA Champions League playoff against Raphael Onyedika’s Club Brugge.