Rangers star Leon Balogun has opened up on his “dream” of playing in the Champions League as the Light Blues prepare to try and qualify for the group stage – as the Nigerian international hailed the “elite” management and players at Ibrox.
Balogun and his Ibrox teammates will discover who the first of two potential qualifying opponents are on Monday when the draw is made for the Third Qualifying Round.
The Rangers defender insists there is a focus among the Gers squad to repeat last season’s “overwhelming” title success”, confessing he doesn’t want to “lose” that feeling.
“We have our heads set on qualifying for the Champions League, and that has always been a dream for me,” Balogun told Rangers TV.
“We have to put in the work for that, but everyone really has that target set and is keen on that.
“I am working under an amazing management team with some amazing players and some amazing talent, and it is elite, definitely.
“The focus is high and I can sense that feeling of everyone wanting to replicate that winning feeling again as it has been so overwhelming and so nice that you don’t want to lose that.
“It is something I have seen from the first day I came in, and it is quite contagious. If you look at the gym, you have a real culture there of everyone pushing on and working on weaknesses and working on strength as well just to make sure everybody is in the right state of mind and body as well.”
Champions League would be a massive boost for Rangers
Securing qualification for the Champions League would be a massive boost on and off the park for Rangers.
The financial aspect is fairly obvious given the riches on offer but it would also give Steven Gerrard’s squad the chance to test themselves against some of the best players on the planet.
For some of Gerrard’s Rangers squad that is exactly the sort of challenge they need to take their game to the next level and build on last season’s title success.
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