Folarin Balogun: "Finish the season in the right way"

In sparkling form these past few weeks, the American striker was at a press conference before the trip to Strasbourg (Sunday, 9pm), to discuss his success and this last match of the season.

Published on 15/05/2026 at 19:30

Reading time: 5 min.

He is simply the top scorer in Ligue 1 for the past two and a half months. With nine goals in eleven matches played during this period, Folarin Balogun has had a stellar season, even being voted CSM's Player of the Season. Determined to maintain this impressive form against Strasbourg this Sunday (9 pm) to help the Rouge et Blanc secure a final victory, the American striker spoke at a press conference two days before this crucial match. 🎙️

Regarding the week's training:

The players are motivated because there's still European qualification to aim for. Admittedly, it wasn't our primary objective, but the Europa League remains a fantastic competition, so we'll do our best to qualify. In any case, the atmosphere is positive. We know we have a big match against Strasbourg and we want to finish the season on a high note. We're aware that our fate isn't entirely in our own hands, as other results also play a role, but the most important thing is to win our match.

Regarding the Ligue 1 table

We haven't gotten the results we wanted in some matches these past few weeks, and when you start losing a few games, it's sometimes difficult to turn things around. Of course, we're disappointed as a team, but there's still a lot to play for. I think the disappointment stems mainly from the fact that we wanted to be in the Champions League, as we were there this year, but we also know we can still qualify for a European competition, which would be a good thing for the club. So, as players, we're focused on achieving that.

The March international break

The international breaks are part of the calendar year, so I don't think that can be an excuse, but it's also the reality because we were on a good run. We didn't see each other for 10 days, and coming back to play again right away is sometimes difficult because it's possible to lose a bit of rhythm. But in my opinion, there were also other things we could have done better to avoid losing some matches. That's something that's in the past now; we discussed it with the coach, and we have to look ahead to finish the season well.

My first two years at AS Monaco were a bit more difficult, but as soon as Sébastien Pocognoli and Kevin Mirallas arrived, they helped me regain confidence and a new understanding of the game, especially in front of goal. I think the progress I made is also due to the advice I received.

Folarin Balogun on the importance of the coaching

His best season ever?

This season, I played in the Champions League, and it was important for me and my development to be able to do so on a bigger stage. And even though it was a good individual season, I think my overall success is linked to the team's. There are still things I need to analyze about myself to see how I could have improved to achieve better results, and to help us progress because we went through a period where results were difficult. It's something we all wanted to avoid, and something we should all strive to eliminate for future seasons.

His progress this year

Overall, I think I've improved my game, and that's every footballer's goal every year. I've progressed with and without the ball, but also in my understanding of the game. I've also scored more goals this season, and these are things that Sébastien Pocognoli, as well as Kevin Mirallas, wanted me to improve on from the start. My first two years at AS Monaco were a bit more difficult, but as soon as the coach and Kevin arrived, they helped me regain confidence and a new understanding of the game, especially in front of goal. I think the progress I've made is also due to the advice I've received.

Maghnes Akliouche at the World Cup

I think Maghnes is a bit like me in that he's a very calm person, so we didn't really see any difference in his reaction. He was the same as yesterday, but I congratulated him because it's a huge achievement, and I'm sure he's excited. He's not the type of guy to start shouting or jumping around (laughs)! He's a very talented young player, and everyone knows the quality of the French national team, so I don't think he would have been selected if he didn't deserve it.