Leon Balogun gutted Rangers Euro dream was wrecked as he tells squad Philippe Clement won't accept 'foolish' thought
The Gers defender has been back in the first team plans under the new Ibrox boss but needs to sit out the crunch Euro games.
Leon Balogun admits he was gutted Mick Beale wrecked his Ibrox European dream.
But the defender is delighted to play his part as the Philippe Clement Rangers revolution gathers momentum. Balogun has been brought back into the fold under the Belgian boss after struggling to get involved under the former manager following his return to the club in the summer.
The Nigeria international was stunned when he was left out of the Rangers squad list for the Europa League – in a move that also mystified fans. The veteran admitted he came back to Glasgow to sample more of the big continental clashes that got his juices flowing in his first spell. The 35-year-old helped fire Gers to Wednesday night’s 1-0 win at Hearts but he’ll need to sit out next week’s crunch encounter against Real Betis. Balogun will be roaring on from the sidelines and he said: “Obviously I came back here looking forward to the European nights at Ibrox but the decision has been made seven or eight weeks ago.
“For now it’s just about me pushing the team on in my way that I can. In training, from the stands or sideline and that’s just my role now.”
Balogun is thrilled to be playing a role on the pitch again under Clement – and he’s convinced Gers are back in business under the Belgian. He said: “I think what you can see is there is a momentum we are creating right now.
“It would be foolish of us to now think, ok things are just going to go our way, but if I look into the dressing room to everybody, I hear the players on the pitch talking to each other, there’s no-one taking anything for granted or thinking it’s just going by itself so we have to keep building.
“Even the way we came off the last two games (Aberdeen and Aris) where we had a set-back, slap on the neck and then came back into the games. I think that shows you the character we’re building at the moment.”
Balogun is on board with the boss – and delighted he’s back in the fold. He said: “I’m really grateful for that and it means a lot because I’ve had a tough spell being on the sidelines and like you said, it seems to be a bit of trust at least.
"Is it a clean slate? Of course. I’ve been a professional now for almost 16 years so it doesn’t always go that way.
“You always think that way and I’ve seen it completely different but I’m happy it went that way. But I think he’s been a breath of fresh air for everyone. Just in his ways.
“You get an idea of the persona he is and I think the boys take it on really well and you can see in our performances overall.”
Balogun can see an upturn in form but he admitted the Tynecastle victory was a mixed bag. He said: “We should have scored more but overall we have great character building in the group. From where we have come from, we are having a good spell under the manager.
“I don’t feel like anyone feels like we can rest, we have to keep building the momentum. There will be games that are less pretty and not as sexy, but as long as we are winning them then everyone will be happy.”