Rangers defender Leon Balogun has opened up about his past experience facing a José Mourinho-led team as his side prepares for a crucial UEFA Europa League showdown against Fenerbahçe.
The Nigerian international recalled his only previous encounter with the Portuguese tactician, which came during his Premier League debut for Brighton against Mourinho’s Manchester United.
Balogun and his teammates secured a memorable 3-2 victory, an experience he still cherishes.
“I wish I could tell you, to be honest. It’s painful for me personally and I’m sure it’s painful for the guys in the locker room. It’s pretty stagnant. I feel like every couple of weeks one of us is sitting in front of the fans, standing in front of the camera, and trying to explain something,” Balogun said.
“I think I’ve only played against Mourinho once. That was my first Premier League game and we beat them (Manchester United) 3-2 at home to Brighton. So that was a great memory. He’s a very, very big character. He’s a very big manager in the football world and you have to have a lot of respect for Mourinho.”
Despite Mourinho’s polarizing persona, Balogun admitted he enjoys the coach’s media presence.
“I personally enjoy Mourinho’s press conferences because I think a lot of people call him arrogant. Maybe so, but I think he’s a very special character. And I think you need a few characters that are not too generic to make football fun. It also gives you (the media) something to write about.”
Looking ahead to Rangers’ Europa League clash with Fenerbahçe, Balogun emphasized the importance of securing a positive result in Istanbul after a disappointing first-leg performance.
“Fenerbahçe away game is a big opportunity for us. After what happened at home, playing the first game away and getting the fans back on our side could be beneficial. However, we still need to take at least two big steps from today to get a good result in Istanbul,” he noted.
With Rangers’ European campaign hanging in the balance, Balogun urged his teammates to rise to the occasion.
“The fact that we will probably be playing European football again in a week will also help us. So this is a big chance, a big opportunity. We really need to give everything to the game. We already have to do that, but now even more so.”
As the Scottish club braces for a challenging night in Turkey, Balogun’s experience and leadership could prove crucial in their quest for progression.
