Leon Balogun woke up on the morning of the Scottish Cup Final feeling like it didn’t really matter after the heartache of Seville followed by the sadness of the Jimmy Bell farewell.
But when the final whistle went at Hampden, the Rangers defender realised winning the trophy actually meant everything.
It wasn’t just the silverware to give Gers something to show for their lung busting campaign.
But it was a symbol of everything the Ibrox club has had to go through, this season and beyond.
Balogun channelled a bit of Bill Struth in the bowels of Hampden yesterday afternoon, paraphrasing the old line about emerging stronger because of the trials that had been overcome.
The centre back said: “I still get a little bit of tension before the games, even at my age. But today I felt a bit numb.
“A lot has happened and we also said goodbye to Jimmy Bell yesterday.
“It was tough.
“You just try to pick yourself up and try to see some sense in it.
“I think it helps me understand the club a bit more because the club has been through a lot.
“I don’t want to say it’s typical but it’s like you get knocked down hard but you get you get back up.
“It’s great to finish the season on a high after two knocks.
“It’s amazing to turn the flat feeling from the last few day reach such a high.
“It makes a lot of mental strength. It might sound a bit weird but I think everybody felt today didn’t matter.
“Obviously it does matter, but that was how much we wanted to in the European final. It’s something only a few players get the chance to do in their careers.
“But it is huge and the dressing room was buzzing.
“To play with legends like Steven Davis and Allan McGregor, you look in to their faces and see what it means to this club to finish with a trophy.”
Balogun reckons Rangers finally got what their toil deserved.
There might have been agony in the Europa League Final but there was joy after yet another 120 minutes of toil this time.
He said: “I think we deserved it. That was the main thing we said to ourselves.
“We had to suffer a lot of setbacks overt the last few weeks with the league and the Europa League Final.
“I think we could feel that a little but. We had to shake it off in the first half but we did a tremendous job coming back in the second half and then in extra time as well.
“It’s not easy. Most of the boys played 120 minus so huge compliment to the guys.
“We deserved it and it was important to finish the season on a high.”
Balogun is one of a number of Rangers players out of contract but the big defender has nailed his colours to the mast.
He would love to be part of the next stage of the Gio van Bronckhorst era at Ibrox because the club’s mentality fits exactly with his own.
Balogun said: “Everyone who watches me around the club knows I’ve fallen in love with this club.
“What I said about getting knocked down and getting back up – that’s something I’ve had in my career.
“I’ve had a lot of downs in my career.
“That’s why me and Rangers are a good fit.
“Even in the final, I had to go through this and the support was outstanding.
“I would love to stay. I hope they know that and I hope I can announce something soon.”
Balogun is confident this is just the start under Van Bronckhorst.
The Dutchman has had to endure a hectic first six months in charge of the Light Blues and there’s been a few bumps along the way.
The Premiership proved to be just out of reach but the run to Seville was spectacular and finishing the campaign with the Scottish Cup on the sideboard was a fitting reward as well as a promise of what is to come.
Baolgun can see nothing but good times ahead.
The manager will have a chance to put his own stamp on the club and potential new signings will be queuing up to come to a place where dreams can be achieved.
Balogun said: “Definitely. Getting to the European final will help as well. There are a lot of great things about Rangers.
“If you look at the season, it wasn’t easy. We lost our manager half way through and had to regroup with a new manager, who has his own ideas.
“It’s not easy but we showed we have great resilience and can play great football
“I can only speak for myself but it will help the manager to have a full pre-season.
“He took over very solid foundations but every manager has his own style and philosophy.
“I’m genuinely excited at what’s to come as we have made huge steps forward these last few months.”
