Lookman and Carnesecchi: ‘Atalanta believe in ourselves’ | OneFootball

Ademola Lookman says Atalanta ‘believe in ourselves’ and he is ready for the AFCON award, while Marco Carnesecchi encourages fans to ‘keep dreaming’ of the Scudetto after beating Milan.

La Dea truly are the form team in Serie A at the moment, as this was their ninth consecutive victory and they are temporarily top of the table, awaiting Napoli’s match against Lazio on Sunday.

Charles De Ketelaere rose to nod in a free kick at the back post against his former club, with Lookman left unmarked to meet a similar set-play move in a late winner, around the Alvaro Morata equaliser.

“It’s a very important game against a very strong team that is doing well in the League. We performed well tonight, three big points and we continue like this,” Lookman told Sky Sport Italia after the 2-1 victory.

“I think we just continue to play the way we play, match by match. We believe in ourselves as a team, so we continue like this and stay together.”

Lookman was named Man of the Match against Milan, but the Nigeria international is also the hot favourite to be named African Player of the Year.

“It’s an honour to be nominated for this prestigious award. Of course, anyone who is nominated would like to win it. It’s a dream!”

Lookman and Carnesecchi encourage Atalanta fans

epa11761114 Milan�s Alvaro Morata (L, top) scores the 1-1 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Atalanta BC and AC Milan, in Bergamo, Italy, 06 December 2024. EPA-EFE/MICHELE MARAVIGLIA

Goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi was stood next to Lookman for the post-match interview and he saw greater maturity from Atalanta.

“It’s a fantastic performance, a very tight game that was decided by incidents. We did very well to steer the match against Roma our way and we did the same this evening, that is very important game-management in a season that is so long,” noted Carnesecchi.

“Now we take on Real Madrid and hope to secure early qualification for the Round of 16.”

The fans in Bergamo were singing about the Scudetto, so do the players finally accept they are in the running?

“At this moment we are really in great shape, so it’s only right that the fans dream and we can dream along with them. We already saw last season we can have our say, so the more we stick together, the better we can do.”

Atalanta won the Europa League last season, the first piece of major silverware for the club under Gian Piero Gasperini.