Semi-final<\/span>aiming for their first Champions League title.<\/p>\nLookman has been a key player for Atletico since joining from Atalanta earlier this year, but missed the last two games of the Copa del Rey final on April 19 with a muscular problem.<\/p>\n
He has been practicing with the rest of the team over the past few days and looked ready to return. However, Atletico coach Simeone said on Tuesday that it was still doubtful whether the Nigeria international striker would start at the Metropolitano Stadium.<\/p>\n
“Let’s see tomorrow if he recovers well,” said Simeone, who celebrated his 56th birthday on Tuesday. “He still has some discomfort.”<\/p>\n
Lookman has scored seven goals since joining Atletico, including one in the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Barcelona, \u200b\u200bwhich Atletico won 3-2 on aggregate.<\/p>\n
“His arrival has had a very positive impact on the team,” said Simeone. “He’s brought something new to our offense and he’s been working much better defensively as well.”<\/p>\n
Lookman, 28, said it was great to have Simeone’s trust and admitted that he has improved in all areas under his guidance.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy all-around game has improved,\u201d he said. \u201cDefinitely my defensive side of the game has improved as well, allowing me to become a complete player who can help the team even more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lookman was born in London and signed for Atl\u00e9tico in February. He played for Fulham and Leicester before joining Atalanta in 2022. Previously he also played for Leipzig and Everton.<\/p>\n
“Atleti is one of the biggest clubs in the world with top players,” he said. “It’s a blessing to be here because the team is great and the team is great. The work we’ve shown together has been great, so it’s been really good.”<\/p>\n
Atl\u00e9tico will be playing in their fourth Champions League semi-final since Simeone took over at the end of 2011. In 2014 and 2016, they lost to Real Madrid in the final.<\/p>\n
“It’s extraordinary for Atl\u00e9tico to reach the semi-finals again. This is the fourth time in 14 years,” Simeone said. “We’re going to play a great team, but we’re going to give it our all.”<\/p>\n
Winning the title was “not pressure, but responsibility,” he said.<\/p>\n
“This is a big goal, something the club has never achieved before,” said Simeone. “But this is a football game and ultimately it’s the players who decide the game.”<\/p>\n
Arsenal’s only previous appearance in the final was in 2006, when they lost to Samuel Eto’o’s Barcelona.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
AP Soccer: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/soccer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
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