Rangers defender Leon Balogun has voiced his disappointment after the Scottish giants were knocked out of the UEFA Europa League following a 2–0 defeat to Athletic Bilbao in the quarterfinal second leg. The result, played out in Spain, saw Bilbao advance after a goalless draw in the first leg.
Speaking to the BBC, the Nigerian international offered a frank assessment of Rangers’ performance. “I think you have to be honest we didn’t show enough quality today to severely threaten them,” Balogun said. “We all came here with high expectations, but we didn’t live up to them. Sometimes you have to hold your hands up Bilbao were the better team.”
The defeat ends Rangers’ European campaign, with fans and players alike left disappointed after a promising run.
Editorial
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Leon Balogun’s candid reaction to Rangers’ Europa League exit is a lesson in humility and leadership. In a sport often filled with excuses and deflection, his willingness to take responsibility stands out and speaks volumes.
For Rangers, this was an opportunity to rekindle the magic of their 2022 final run. But European nights demand not just passion, but precision. And against a seasoned side like Athletic Bilbao, anything short of top quality won’t be enough. As Balogun rightly noted, the team simply didn’t deliver when it mattered most.
This shouldn’t overshadow the growth Rangers have shown or Balogun’s contribution as a defensive leader. But it does highlight a hard truth in Europe, margins are tight, and expectations are unforgiving. Still, this campaign offers lessons about resilience, about standards, and about what it truly means to compete at the top.
Balogun’s honesty may sting today, but it’s exactly the mindset Rangers need tomorrow.
Did You Know?
- Leon Balogun has played in three UEFA Europa League campaigns with Rangers, including the 2022 run to the final.
- Athletic Bilbao have reached the semifinals of a European competition five times in their history.
- Rangers last won a European trophy in 1972—the now-defunct European Cup Winners’ Cup.
- Balogun has over 50 caps for Nigeria and played in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
- Rangers have been knocked out in the quarterfinals of a UEFA competition six times since 1961.
