Folarin Balogun on adapting to life at Monaco & his USMNT Olympics & Champions League ‘dreams’

Fresh off his confidence-boosting brace against FC Metz on Saturday, AS Monaco’s Folarin Balogun (22) has reflected on his first season with Les Monégasques, as well as his dreams to feature in the UEFA Champions League and this summer’s Olympics Games in Paris.

Folarin Balogun on his Champions League dream:

“I would love to be lining up before the r game and hearing that music. That the motivation to get it done this season […] it’s amazing that I have the opportunity to do so with <a href=«https://twitter.com/hashtag/ASMonaco?src=hash&ref_src=» https: target="_blank" rel=«noopener»>#ASMonaco

During Monaco’s Kids’ Tour stop in Villefranche-sur-mer, during which he signed autographs and greeted young fans of Les Rouges et Blancs, Balogun spoke with Get French Football News.

You got your first brace for Monaco during the 5-2 victory over Metz, however, you didn’t seem too happy, saying that you ‘expect more of yourself’…

I wasn’t sad; I was more focused and more relieved, but I think I was just focused on coming on and helping the team. Of course, after the game I was delighted, but maybe my face didn’t show this. My inner feeling was one of gladness for sure. 

In what has at times been a difficult debut season at Monaco, was there a relief to get that brace and do you think that that’ll free you to score before the end of the campaign?

That’s the plan! It’s always nice, as a striker, to score. It’s important. Any striker will tell you that the feeling of scoring is something that is just unexplainable. It’s nice to get the goal and the plan is to give myself the confidence going into the final games, which are the most important in helping us reach where we want to get to. 

Having never competed