Super Eagles and Rangers defender, Leon Balogun, has backed his club side to go all the way in the UEFA Europa League this season, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 36-year-old has been a core part of the Gers team this season, playing more games this campaign than he did in the last, but all that wasn't enough to earn a spot in Eric Chelle's 23-man squad list ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Nonetheless, he put in a decent shift against Fenerbahce last night as his side went through via a penalty shoot-out. He's now dared to dream of a European silverware, and urges his teammates to do the same.
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“It’s special already. Europe for the time I have been here has always been special. It’s a phrase, but Thursday nights at Ibrox are just incredible
“These guys in the stands never cease to amaze. They all give it their all. They don’t have it easy with everything going on outside of football plus our up and down season, but I can speak for everyone when I say it was for them.
“Domestically it doesn’t look pretty so to have that raises extra energy because we know it’s all we’ve got to really get something special done.
“Tonight was amazing and I’m proud to be part of this team,” the ex-Queens Park Rangers defender said as per Daily Record, thanking the Ibrox crowd for lifting the team against Jose Mourinho's side.
“You always go into competitions trying to win them. I’m straight forward, you need realism, but I’ve been part of a group that’s made it to the final before. Nothing’s impossible.
“You need a bit of luck, we earned that today, and let’s see what the next round brings. It’s not going to get easier, but if we don’t come from a place of belief we might as well pack our bags. If you look at us closely we’re not about that,” Balogun added.
“This should give us loads of belief. We still have lots to improve. We can’t shy away from that. On the ball we were a bit sloppy and not brave enough at times.
“It will be a different game again, they will rub their hands thinking we are going to be tired, but we showed some really big character there.
“We have to bring that into the game on Sunday as well and make sure we represent the badge well. You don’t have time to recover.
“That’s the schedule , there’s enough people and organisations out there who try to change something about it. You just have to deal with it. We have a big squad.
“If players need a rest, so be it. Everyone wants to be involved in an Old Firm and we will do our best to be in the best shape on Sunday.
“This speaks for the character of the group. We have been criticised a lot and often deservedly, but there’s more quality in this group than people give us credit for. It’s on us to show it more consistently then the perception will probably change as well,” the Germany-born Nigerian concluded.
