REVENGE MISSION FOR LEON
Rangers v
Tomorrow, 3pm
LEON BALOGUN says he will be out to settle old scores as he insisted Rangers’ Europa League final date with Eintracht Frankfurt is personal.
The Berlin-born Nigeria defender played for a host of Bundesliga outfits before moving to the UK to sign for Brighton in 2018.
He won his switch to the Amex on the back of a three-year spell with Mainz, local rivals of Frankfurt.
But of his four Rhine-main derby experiences, Balogun tasted victory just once and signed off from the club on the back of two 3-0 thumpings.
Now he says he owes it to his mates back home to stick the boot into the Slipper Kickers one last time.
With league business very much on the back burner ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Dundee United at Ibrox, Balogun said: “I was born and raised in Berlin, Germany.
“I used to play for Mainz and they have quite a rivalry with Eintracht Frankfurt. So for me it’s personal – I have to make two teams proud.
“But I am very confident that with this group, with this bunch of players, we can achieve that big dream that everybody now has and had before the game.”
Gers have lost control of their title destiny with Celtic in pole position to rip back possession of the Premiership trophy this weekend.
But the Ibrox men can still finish the campaign on a high by lifting both the Europa League and the Scottish Cup.
They will scrap it out for the later trophy against Hearts at Hampden just three days after the Seville final.
And Balogun reckons that would be the perfect way to honour Jimmy Bell after the cherished kitman’s sudden passing earlier this week.
He said: “We have two finals to play and we couldn’t really ask for too much more. I think we have to just take that in.
“There were loads of things going on before the game, obviously the sad news about Jimmy Bell.
“Now we are in that place that we dreamed of and we have to make it for the club, for us personally, but also for Jimmy.
“We have to make sure we win both finals.”
I used to play for Mainz who have a rivalry with Frankfurt so for me the Europa League final is
very personal