According to a report by Daily Post on Tuesday November 3, 2026, Atlético Madrid manager Diego Simeone has publicly backed Ademola Lookman despite the Nigerian forward's disappointing goalscoring form, insisting that he still has strong faith in the player to rediscover his best performances.

Lookman has struggled to make the expected impact in front of goal this season, managing just two goals in 14 appearances across all competitions. His declining influence has also raised questions about his position in Simeone's starting lineup.

Speaking ahead of Atlético Madrid's Champions League meeting with Bayern Munich, Simeone made it clear that he does not want the Nigerian international to become frustrated by his current difficulties.

"I have a lot of faith in him," the Argentine manager said. "I don't want him to get frustrated because he's not going through his best moment, because it's part of life, part of the game, part of football."

Simeone also pointed to Julián Álvarez and Antoine Griezmann as examples of players who have experienced difficult periods before returning to their best form.

The Atlético manager believes Lookman still possesses important qualities, particularly his ability to take on defenders and win one-on-one battles in the final third.

However, the statistics underline the extent of the Nigerian's struggles. Lookman has scored only once in his last 11 matches, with his goal coming against Sevilla in late August.

His situation has become more concerning following his reduced playing time. The 28-year-old was limited to just 14 minutes during Atlético's 2-0 victory over Levante on Saturday, suggesting that he is gradually losing his position as an undisputed starter.

The situation represents a significant change from his impressive introduction to life at the Spanish club.

Lookman joined Atlético from Atalanta during last season's winter transfer window and quickly established himself as an important attacking option for Simeone.

He finished his first spell with the Spanish side with nine goals and four assists in 24 appearances, performances that raised expectations ahead of the current campaign.

Atlético had hoped that the Nigerian would build on that impressive beginning and provide even greater attacking contributions this season.

There was also an opportunity for Lookman to establish himself as a central figure in the team's attack following Julián Álvarez's early-season uncertainty over his future and reported interest in joining Barcelona.

However, the former Atalanta forward has failed to take full advantage of the situation, with his performances and goalscoring numbers falling below expectations.

Despite his struggles, Simeone appears determined to give him the support needed to recover his confidence.

Lookman now has an opportunity to change the conversation surrounding his performances when Atlético Madrid face Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

A strong display against the German giants could help the Nigerian regain his manager's confidence and improve his chances of returning to the starting lineup.