LEON Balogun has stressed that Rangers are in a far better place now than they were when they crashed to a 3-1 defeat to Aberdeen at Ibrox back in September thanks to new manager Philippe Clement.
Balogun was not involved in the cinch Premiership loss to Barry Robson’s side at home – but he was sitting on the bench and witnessed the angry fallout to his team’s dire performance and the disappointing result in the stands.
The Nigerian internationalist was desperately disappointed when the Glasgow club’s board sacked Michael Beale – the manager who had taken him back to Govan during the summer – in the aftermath of the humiliating loss.
However, the 35-year-old has enjoyed working under Clement and he is hoping that Rangers can show just how much they have improved with the Belgian at the helm when they return to league action at Pittodrie tomorrow afternoon.
Rangers have gone undefeated in all seven of the games they have played under the former Genk, Club Brugge and Monaco manager, have reached the Viaplay Cup final and are in second place in their Europa League group.
“That was a massive kick in the face,” said Balogun when he was asked about the Aberdeen defeat yesterday. “A slap on the wrist doesn’t quite cover it. I remember that the team was very down. There was a very dark cloud around the dressing room, I would say, which feels like it has now lifted.
“There’s a different buzz in the changing room and confidence feels pretty high at the moment. Because of the recent results and performances as well. So it’s very, very different.”
Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd caused controversy following Aberdeen’s defeat to Celtic at Parkhead a fortnight ago when he claimed the Pittodrie club always raise their game against their bitter Ibrox rivals. But centre half Balogun expects every side he faces to do that.
“I think every team is trying harder against us, always,” he said. “So, with all due respect, that is nothing new really. We all know that, especially from the Aberdeen side, there is a great value to that game because of the rivalry.
“You always know up there that it’s not going to be pretty. They’re going to make it hard for you. I remember the first time I played there, I ended up being slammed against a goalpost. That was my first game in Scotland, actually, so it was a proper welcome.
“These are always games when everyone is fighting hard and we know it’s going to be physical. But for us it’s about focusing on our game. First of all, we deal with that and accept it, then still try and play our football.”
Balogun, who has enjoyed an extended run in the Rangers first team under Clement in the absence of first Ben Davies and then John Souttar, wants to win every time he dons a light blue jersey.
But he confessed that he and his team mates will find avenging their September defeat sweet. “There will probably always be an element of “right, last game we know how it went, so let’s make sure it doesn’t happen again’,” he said.
“I don’t want to call it revenge, but it never sits nicely if you suffer defeat. We haven’t actually spoken about it as a group, but I’m sure most of the lads will have it at the back of their mind.”
