- Rangers defender Leon Balogun has warned his teammates ahead of their crucial Europa League second-leg clash with Fenerbahce
- The Gers hold a 3-1 advantage from the first leg in Turkey, but Balogun insists the tie is far from over
- Rangers made history with their away win in Turkey, becoming the only Scottish club to secure a European away victory in 20 years
Rangers defender Leon Balogun has issued a stern warning to his teammates ahead of their UEFA Europa League round of 16 second-leg clash against Fenerbahce, urging them to be fully prepared for Jose Mourinho’s tactical tricks.
The Gers hold a 3-1 advantage from the first leg in Turkey, where Cyriel Dessers’ brilliant performance gave them a crucial away win.
However, Balogun remains cautious, insisting that the tie is far from over, especially with a tactician like Mourinho in the opposite dugout.
Speaking to the press, Balogun explained that Rangers cannot afford to be complacent, especially with Fenerbahce looking to overturn the deficit,
“It’s a big week with two perfect fixtures. Obviously, Fenerbahce is first up, and we had a very good result over there, but we’re going against the Special One with some very good players, and I think it’s far from over,” he stated.
While Rangers fans may already have one eye on Sunday’s Old Firm derby against Celtic, Balogun insists that his focus is solely on Thursday’s European showdown,
“I can only speak for myself, but it really is like that (one game at a time). I don’t think about the weekend so much. Obviously, it is there, but those games are always big. Right now, the main focus is getting through to the next round in Europe, therefore, we have to focus on Fenerbahce. I’m sorry to be boring!” he joked.
The Nigerian international also acknowledged Mourinho’s ability to bounce back from setbacks and expects Fenerbahce to be much stronger in the second leg,
“It was a really good result and performance. But like I said, this is Mourinho, and I’m sure he will have a few tricks up his sleeve. He wouldn’t have been happy at all after the tie over there, but I think there’s a lot of confidence for us to take, and we can probably up our game in terms of on the ball.”
Rangers have been one of Scotland’s most consistent teams in Europe in recent years. Their triumph in Turkey last week made them the only Scottish side to secure an away win in European competition over the last two decades.
Additionally, they reached the Europa League final in 2022, where they narrowly lost to Eintracht Frankfurt on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
With history on their side and a lead to defend, Rangers will be hoping to finish the job at Ibrox. But with Mourinho’s reputation for masterminding comebacks, they know the job is far from done.
"I didn’t want to leave," Nigerian striker Dessers speaks on Rangers transfer speculation
Previously, TheRadar reported that just weeks ago, Cyriel Dessers' future at Rangers appeared uncertain. The Super Eagles striker had slipped down the pecking order, losing his starting spot to Hamza Igamane.
The Nigerian forward has now spoken out, admitting that while there was genuine interest elsewhere, he never actively sought a move away from Rangers.
