Glasgow Rangers of Scotland defender Leon Aderemi Balogun has confessed that he felt on top of the world getting back into the club’s starting line-up on Sunday, and he felt extra happy that he was able to help them whip Aberdeen 4-0.
Sports247 reports that, while out-of-favour Super Eagles’ striker, Cyriel Kolawole Dessers scored their side’s second goal of the evening, Balogun was on for 79 minutes of the game at Ibrox Stadium.
Although he could not last the distance, the mulatto centre-back said he was happy playing a big role in what he described as a ‘phantom victory’ over The Dons.
Before Sunday’s game, The Gers failed to win a stretch of home games, while Balogun had been out for a couple of weeks with a face injury, which required him to wear a mask on his return to their starting 11.
He admitted afterwards that it was a huge relief helping his side get back to winning ways in front of their fans and reasoned that the win would spur them to end the season on a high.
Balogun said, “It’s been like a phantom kind of moment. After going through several games without a win, it’s good to win big. Not being able to win at home was not something to be proud of. That’s why it was good for us to be able to get this victory.”
The lanky defender, who previously played in Germany and England, further revealed a chain of technical, physical and mental factors that helped his side take their visitors to the cleaners.
Balogun added, “We felt quite comfortable in the game, and there was more left in the tank. So, the gaffer told us at half time to empty the tank and give like 10, 15 per cent extra. So, there was a lot of urgency in the second half, and we stepped up. We could then see what we are capable of.”
He concluded by noting how many lapses in the squad eventually saw them fail to edge their fellow-Glasgow-based eternal rivals, Celtic to the trophy, but stressed that The Gers just have to pick positives from Sunday’s result.
“We know it’s a shame that we have to address this issue over and over again. All the same, on a positive, it was a great result against a great team,” Balogun reiterated.
