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Gian Piero Gasperini seemed surprised to hear that his disrespectful comments about Ademola Lookman were indeed disrespectful. Gasperini blasted Lookman as "one of the worst penalty takers I've ever seen" after the Nigerian missed one in Atalanta's 3-1 loss to Club Brugge in the Champions League playoff round. The penalty itself was immaterial to the loss. Atalanta were trailing 5-2 on aggregate with just a half hour to go in a tie that had long escaped them. If anything, Lookman had made the score more respectful, scoring off the bench minutes prior to the miss heard 'round the world.

Gasperini didn't just say Lookman wasn't good at penalty-taking. He took a personal shot at the player, even though said player had converted each of his four previous attempts for Atalanta. Gasperini used much different language to describe Mateo Retegui's missed effort in a costly draw with Arsenal, saying only that he was "sorry" for the player "given the game he pulled off." There was no mention of Retegui at all after his attempt was saved in another damaging draw with Torino.

Obviously, there's a chain of command, and Lookman appeared to break it. Retegui is the designated taker, and Charles De Ketelaere is a close second. Lookman is a distant third, but given he had just scored against Brugge, offering the club at least the appearance of a lifeline, he backed himself to score again. Gasperini even conceded that the buzz of the game had gotten to Lookman. Because it's understandable.

But players who've executed in the biggest moments deserve the benefit of the doubt. Lest we forget, Lookman scored the hat-trick that ended Bayer Leverkusen's unbeaten run and awarded Gasperini the one and only major title of his managerial career. So he's earned enough credit, and De Ketelaere had given Lookman his blessing to take the penalty anyway.

Players like Lookman want responsibility. Denying them is like cutting off their oxygen supply. There has never been a great player who hasn't demanded responsibility in the biggest moments, whether it's keeping the ball instead of passing or taking a penalty instead of deferring.

What played out in Bergamo was much different than the embarrassing scenes that marred Udinese's 1-0 win at Lecce. Lorenzo Lucca drew the ire of his entire team for breaking the very same chain of command, pushing teammates away from the penalty spot in a very public feud. But he's an up-and-comer who's earned far less credit than Lookman at his respective club. While he converted the penalty, he was rightfully substituted for insubordination.

Gasperini clearly doesn't respect Lookman's accomplishments at Atalanta, or else he wouldn't have reserved such derisive language for one of his best players. In the end, though, it comes down to control. Gasperini can't allow any one player to go against his authority or appear more important than his word. As much as he's achieved at Atalanta — turning a yo-yo club into title contender — Gasperini has ruled with an iron fist. Many players, including former captain Papu Gomez, have left the club because of the 67-year-old. Lookman will likely be next.

Gasperini has rehabilitated players who've lost their way and guided youngsters to the promised land. His track record has made him into a sort of don. Oftentimes, these players need him more than he needs them. His system is full of rotational elements. But it's different with Lookman. Unlike others who've left Atalanta, he'll have success wherever he ends up. Because he wants the very responsibility that got him in trouble in the first place.