Ademola Lookman praised his side’s mentality after Atalanta swept Monza aside 4-0 in Serie A, on Sunday.
Lookman had struggled to find the net for over eight weeks, with his last goal coming in Atalanta’s emphatic 4-0 win over Juventus back in March.
But he put an end to the dry spell with a composed finish that highlighted his attacking instincts.
The winger made it 3-0 in the 63rd minute, latching onto a smart-headed assist from Mateo Retegui before slotting the ball past the Monza goalkeeper.
Before Lookman’s goal, Belgian forward Charles De Ketelaere had already given Atalanta a comfortable lead with a quickfire brace.
Substitute Marco Brescianini added a fourth in the closing minutes after replacing Lookman in the 80th minute to cap off a dominant display.
While Atalanta are no longer in the Serie A title race, the victory was a much-needed response after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Lecce in their previous outing.
Speaking after the match, Lookman stressed the team’s focus on bouncing back.
“Yes, last week we weren’t very happy with the result after the draw at Lecce,” he said. “Today (Sunday) we wanted to put it right. Four goals away from home is always a good result.”
The Nigerian has now recorded 19 goals and seven assists in 37 appearances across all competitions this season, underlining his importance to Gian Piero Gasperini’s side.
However, Lookman’s time in Bergamo may be coming to an end. The former Everton, Fulham, and Leicester City man is widely expected to leave Atalanta this summer.
He has been linked with high-profile moves, with Arsenal and Barcelona reportedly among the clubs monitoring his situation.
Lookman’s return to form could prove timely as he looks ahead to a potential transfer and prepares for international duty with the Super Eagles.