Juric: Lookman and Ederson ‘excellent athletes, let’s see how they get on’

Ivan Juric feels that returning Atalanta stars Ederson and Ademola Lookman are ‘excellent athletes’, as they earn their first starts of the season in the Champions League league phase tie against Club Brugge on Tuesday evening. 

La Dea host Club Brugge at the New Balance Arena in what is a repeat of last season’s play-off round tie, in the early kick-off slot at 17.45 BST. 

You can follow the action as it unfolds on the Football Italia Liveblog.

What Juric said about Lookman and Ederson starting in the Champions League

Lookman, who attempted to force through a move away from the club during the summer transfer window, is called in for his first start of the season against Club Brugge. 

There is also room in the starting line-up for Ederson, who has also been unable to start so far this season, albeit due to injury rather than for disciplinary reasons. 

“They’re quality players. They’ve been training with us for a while, I think that today is a good opportunity for them to start playing in matches,” Juric told Sky Sport Italia about the return of Lookman and Ederson to the starting line-up.

“They’re two excellent athletes, we’ll see how they get on during the game.”

Juric has also decided to hand a second consecutive Champions League start to 21-year-old wing-back Lorenzo Bernasconi. 

“We have a lot of games back-to-back. The lad had a great game in Paris, I have confidence in him and I think he will do well again tonight,” Juric said of the youngsters inclusion. 

And, previewing the test against Club Brugge on Tuesday night, Juric added: “We’ve worked on the details, on all the things that could possibly happen. Now we have to execute.

“We know that they dominated and managed to get through last year. This year, we want to do better and try to beat them.”