Rangers defender Leon Balogun has insisted their recent title success was extra special because they stopped Celtic in the process.
Steven Gerrard’s side were confirmed as Scottish Premiership champions last week, with their win and Celtic’s draw with Dundee United meaning they could not be caught at the top of the table.
The success is Rangers 55th title in their history but, crucially, their first since being relegated to the bottom of the Scottish football league ten years ago.
Crucially it also brought an end to Celtic’s dominance of Scottish football, with them having won the title in each of the previous nine seasons, largely thanks to Rangers fall from grace.
That has made the win all the sweeter, and Balogun, who only arrived at Ibrox last summer, is more than aware of that fact.
“Because the rivalry between us and the club from the other side of the city is incredibly great,” he told Sport 1 when asked why this title is special.
“This tenth title that this club had sought was the big topic this season. Honestly? I don’t have a real idea of this rivalry yet, because no fans are allowed to be there yet.
“I get an insight through social media or last before the match day, when the streets were full of fans when we arrived at the stadium, and the police had to guide us through it.
“But even then, my teammates said to me, ‘Leon, you haven’t seen anything yet’. I still have no idea about the craziness of our fans, what it feels like to play in front of them.
“Often the club was on the right track, but then you had to listen to this other club again, ‘There is only us here’ because they then weakened on the home stretch.
“And with this title, so much has been refuted and, above all, overcome that it makes this success all the more special. And it’s cool to be a part of it.”
Key to Rangers success has been the presence of Steven Gerrard on the touchline, with the former Liverpool midfielder having helped reshape the club since arriving three years ago.
Many questioned if Gerrard could handle the pressure in Glasgow, with Rangers his first senior management job after retiring at Anfield.
He’s proven those doubters wrong emphatically, rebuilding the side into competitors both home and in Europe too.
Gerrard’s iconic status in the game has certainly helped him win fans and players over at Ibrox, but Balogun insists there is more to it than that.
“You can simply feel that he has radically internalised this winning mentality,” he added.
“In training, when he sometimes plays, you see this unconditional will to perform and win. And what he is incredibly good at is to pass this on to us. Of course, his CV helps. Everyone knows him. But he also has the necessary sensitivity and empathy to see what a player or team needs.
“He is ideally able to maintain the balance between looseness and rigour and to bring a player aside at the right moment to build him up. He does a really good job with his coaching team, which is why we are also causing a stir in the Europa League with our performances.
“Our trainer is a fine guy and has a big future ahead of him.”
