Balogun wants his love affair to go on

LOSING a European final hurts.

Naturally. Winning a domestic trophy less than 72 hours later certainly helps the healing process.

It is these sort of ups and downs — from utter despair to the joy of confetti bursting into the air and rejoicing with team-mates — that helps Leon Balogun appreciate his time as a Rangers player.

Injuries have provided another hurdle to overcome this season. But now, with the Scottish Cup in the cabinet and a Europa League

runners-up medal, the Nigerian no longer wants to reflect on the past.

Looking forward and ensuring more good times are savoured is top of his list.

The 33-year-old was back in the centre of defence for Rangers as the club defeated Hearts after

extra-time at Hampden. It was the perfect finale to a season which could have been labelled a failure if no trophies had been sealed.

Rangers now need to be strong in the transfer window — and Balogun very much wants to be part of things under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, with his contract now expiring this summer.

‘Everyone who watches me move around the club knows that I have absolutely fallen in love with this club,’ said Balogun.

‘What I’ve described about getting knocked down and standing back up, it’s my career. I had a lot of downs and I always pick myself back up. That is why probably me and Rangers are quite a good fit.

‘Even the cup final, I thought I had to go through this with all the support, to get that into my DNA even more. I would love to stay, I think they know that. I hope I can announce something about my future with Rangers soon.’

This has been an energy-sapping week for Rangers. They fought all the way to end up empty-handed in Seville and then lasted 120 minutes at Hampden to secure a different, positive outcome.

Yesterday’s game was the fourth match in their last 11 which has gone to at least extra-time.

The club paid a final farewell to legendary kitman Jimmy Bell on Friday at his funeral before they had to prepare themselves for the clash with Hearts.

‘Even at my age, you get tension,’ continued Balogun. ‘I personally felt a bit numb. We said goodbye to Jimmy as well.

‘It was tough, you try to pick yourself up and see some sense to it. I think it helps me to understand the club as well because the club has been through a lot.

‘I don’t want to say it’s typical. But it’s happened to Rangers a lot that you get knocked down hard, you pick yourself up and you go again.

‘It’s then just great to end this season on a high after having really two knocks with missing out on the league then the European final. It’s amazing to turn that flat feeling we’ve had over the last few days into that high.

‘It takes a lot of mental strength. A European final is something only a few people can pride themselves on. The dressing room is buzzing.

‘In extra-time it wasn’t easy. Most of the boys played 120 minutes, so a huge compliment to the guys.

‘It’s massive not to finish the season empty-handed, to get another trophy to our name and to play alongside legends of the club like Steven Davis and Allan McGregor.’