We Kept Fighting, Says Lookman

First Team
30 Apr 2022
2 Minutes
Ademola Lookman believes Leicester City showed fighting spirit during Thursday's 1-1 draw with Roma in the first leg of their semi-final tie against the Italian giants in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

- Leicester City drew 1-1 with Roma on Filbert Way on Thursday evening
- The sides were meeting in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League last-four stage
- Ademola Lookman reflected on a fascinating first-leg duel at full-time with LCFC TV
- He believes it's set up to be a thrilling conclusion at Stadio Olimpico next week

Although eventually awarded as an own goal by Gianluca Mancini, Lookman forced the situation which led to City's equaliser on Filbert Way, following Lorenzo Pellegrini's opener for the visitors. It ended 1-1 on the night ahead of next Thursday's huge second leg at Stadio Olimpico.

Speaking after a pulsating tie which Leicester dominated for large spells, the on-loan winger provided his verdict on the clash and outlined his optimism for the second leg. Before then, the Foxes travel to north London to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday (2pm BST kick-off).

On the equalising goal, he told LCFC TV: "I knew Barnesy (Harvey Barnes) had got in, so I just thought I needed to get into the box and look for a tap-in when the ball came in. I was fighting to get a touch on the ball and I did. Everybody knows when the crowd’s behind you, you feel that, it gives us energy as players.

"I think that showed today, especially in the second half. We took that on as a positive. It was a good game. The semi-final is a special game always in a European competition. I think, we as a team, played well today. We showed our qualities and we’ll look to win the game next week."

Despite starting brightly amid an intense atmosphere, City fell behind in the 15th minute when Pellegrini capped off a counter-attack for José Mourinho's Giallorossi. The hosts, though, restored their control over the encounter and, in the end, were unfortunate not to establish a lead for the second leg.

"In the first half, in certain instances, we had the momentum," Lookman continued. "They created some problems for us, but we bounced back from that well and we showed our fight. In those instances, you always, obviously, want things to come off for you.

"If things don’t come off for you, it’s always about keeping on going, keeping on fighting until the last whistle. That’s my nature and, in the second half, things were much better.

"It’s going to be an amazing atmosphere [in the second leg]. We’ve got another game in the Premier League on Sunday so we’ll look forward to that and, then after that, we’ll look forward to getting a result out in Rome."