Folarin Balogun’s (24) winner against Galatasaray was the product of perseverance. The AS Monaco forward spurned two great chances in the second half, in the wake of Denis Zakaria’s penalty miss, which left Les Monégasques asking whether it would be their night.

But Balogun persevered and did open the scoring in the 68th minute, as Monaco went on to register a 1-0 win over Galatasaray, which could prove vital for their UEFA Champions League hopes. It was Balogun’s third UCL goal this season, and post-match, he was praised for his mentality. 

“He missed a few chances, but he showed his strength of character. He didn’t give up and kept going. We congratulated him for that,” reacted Maghnes Akliouche in a post-match mixed zone attended by Get French Football News. 

Sébastien Pocognoli added, “Players are like sponges. If you’re nervous on the sideline, they will feel it. Balo does work off the ball, which is very important for us. He responded after the misses, and I am very happy for him. It shows his strength of character, and it shows that he can get back up.”

“The important thing is that he believes in himself […] I hope he continues like this,” added Takumi Minamino. Monaco’s top goal-scorer in the Champions League, only Ansu Fati (5) has scored more than Balogun (4) in Ligue 1. The USMNT forward is becoming the main man at the Principality club in what is a crucial World Cup year.