Rangers defender Leon Balogun has cautioned his teammates about the tactical prowess of Fenerbahce head coach Jose Mourinho as they prepare for the second leg of their UEFA Europa League clash.
The Scottish giants head into the home fixture with a strong advantage after a commanding 3-1 victory in Turkey last Thursday, fueled by a stellar performance from Cyriel Dessers.
Despite having the weekend off, Balogun has urged his side to remain fully focused if they aim to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the competition.
With a crucial Old Firm derby against Celtic looming on Sunday, the experienced Nigerian centre-back insists that his priority remains the European challenge, especially against a manager as shrewd as Mourinho.
“It’s a massive week with two huge fixtures. First, we have Fenerbahce, and though we got a great result away, we’re up against the Special One and a squad full of quality players. It’s far from over,” Balogun told the Daily Record.
“For me, it’s one game at a time. The weekend’s match is important, but right now, our sole focus is progressing in Europe. I know it sounds repetitive, but that’s the mindset we need.”
Acknowledging Mourinho’s tactical brilliance, Balogun emphasized the need for Rangers to elevate their game.
“It was a great performance from us, but this is Mourinho. He’ll have a plan, and he won’t be happy with how things went in the first leg. We need to be