His preseason, Eric Dier, the Champions League… Interview with Folarin Balogun | OneFootball

Having scored his first goal of the season in the 3-2 victory over Strasbourg in the third matchday of Ligue 1, the American striker for AS Monaco spoke about his expectations as he begins his third season with the club.

He has just scored his first goal. He was instrumental in the team’s opening goal by Maghnes Akliouche and then he himself scored a goal during the important victory achieved last Sunday in Ligue 1 against Strasbourg (3-2), Folarin Balogun  is in good form at the start of the season. That’s why the American international took the time to talk about his third season with AS Monaco, his feelings about the team, and their objectives, among other things during the team’s time in England. Interview 🎙️

Hello Folarin. To start, how are you feeling at the beginning of this season?

Physically, I feel really good. I had a great summer break and I came back to Monaco in top shape, so even though I had a minor injury during pre-season against Cercle Bruges, my feelings are really good.

I'm very motivated to start this new season with AS Monaco, especially since I know the club and the fans have high expectations of me. So, I just want to keep working hard to ensure everything goes well this year, and that I can contribute to the team as much as possible.

You returned from vacation earlier than expected. Does that show that you wanted to do everything possible to have a great season?

Yes, absolutely! I’m very motivated to start this new season with AS Monaco, especially since I know the club and the fans have high expectations of me. So, I just want to keep working hard to ensure everything goes well this year, and that I can contribute to the team as much as possible.

Before that, were you able to recharge your batteries and come back stronger?

Yes, it’s always nice for me to go back to London or the United States, to spend time with my family and friends. It’s even more important to disconnect and recharge, before such an intense season. I feel like I had a good break, but I was also very happy to be back in Monaco, to see the team again, to start this 2025-2026 season, which promises to be very exciting!

When we arrived in England for the training camp, we heard you say, “I’m back home”…

(He smiles) Absolutely! I have to admit that when I was talking to people at the English national team training camp, it was very easy; they understood me perfectly. Whereas when I talk to my teammates sometimes at the Performance Center, they sometimes make me repeat things two or three times (laughs). They have some trouble understanding my accent sometimes, that’s why I said I was happy to be back home. But it was more of a joke with my teammates!

How important is this pre-season training camp for the team?

It’s really crucial for us, especially for the new players, so they can integrate more quickly and, above all, understand what the coach expects from them. Personally, it was also important for me to complete my first full pre-season training camp with AS Monaco, to feel even more comfortable within the team and with the coaching staff, and to ensure I’m physically ready. It’s even better to experience this all together, and of course the camp is a special and formative moment. We train hard, we run a lot, we do tough training sessions, but that helps us be ready for a long season, and also, it helps with team integration.

You’ve been in Monaco for two years now. We can see that you’re increasingly happy here; is that how you feel as well?

When I first arrived here, it took me some time to adjust during my first season, because it’s a unique place to play football and to live. Then, my second year started quite well, as I scored three goals in three matches, I think. Unfortunately, I then suffered a shoulder injury, so it was a difficult period for me. Despite that, since then I’ve felt much more comfortable in Monaco and with the team, and now I’m starting my third season.

When I was at Arsenal, we lived in the same neighborhood. So when he arrived at Monaco, I immediately thought I could help him with certain things, make him feel as comfortable as possible to help him settle in.

Folarin BalogunOn Eric Dier

Well, I still can’t speak French fluently, but I understand it much better now. It helps me feel more comfortable, for example, when we have lunch together as a team, because I can understand what we’re talking about and why everyone is laughing. These are small things, but they make me feel much better, and ultimately, that’s very important.

In any case, you now have a new teammate to practice speaking English with in the locker room: Eric Dier!

(He smiles) Yes, definitely, even though he played for Tottenham (smiles). But seriously, when I was at Arsenal, we lived in the same neighborhood. So when he arrived at Monaco, I immediately thought I could help him with certain things, make him feel as comfortable as possible to help him settle in. And from the first day, we were able to build a connection, because we had breakfast together, which gave us the opportunity to talk about lots of things. So yes, it’s nice to share things with him, and it makes communication much easier (smiles).

Do you think he can also contribute to your development based on his experience?

Absolutely, because he’s a top player! He’s been a professional for a very long time now, and he’s an English international (49 caps, editor’s note), so it’s great for a young player like me to be able to learn from him. And I think he can really help the team improve, given his experience and the number of matches he’s played. Especially since he’s played in high-pressure matches, so, as I said, his experience can be very valuable to us. In fact, I’m sure everyone at AS Monaco is delighted to have him here. Now, I’m especially looking forward to playing with him, particularly in the Champions League matches that are coming up for the second season in a row.

I admit I'm very excited about making my debut in this competition, because it's truly a major event! Everyone knows how difficult and high-level the Champions League is, so yes, I'm really looking forward to getting started.

Folarin BalogunOn the Champions League

We can imagine you’re really looking forward to getting back into this competition…

I have to admit I’m very excited because it’s such a prestigious competition! Everyone knows how difficult and high-level the Champions League is, especially since last season was frustrating for me because of my injury. That’s why I hope this will be a good year; in any case, I’m really enthusiastic about it.

Do you think the team now has more strengths to compete successfully in all competitions?

Absolutely, and we understand the club’s philosophy at this level. The coach and the management encourage young talents to play, to have confidence in themselves, and to be courageous! But to achieve this, they wanted to add experience to the squad to find the right balance, and I think they’ve done an excellent job with the recruitment of these experienced players. We must congratulate Thiago (Scuro) and the staff for having managed to bring them in. Even within the dressing room, we have the feeling that we have a very strong group capable of being competitive and aiming for success this season. In any case, we want to perform at our best in every competition!

There’s one player you know very well who arrived last January, and that’s… Mika Biereth. What can you tell us about him?

That’s right, we met in the Arsenal youth academy. We already had a very good relationship back then, even though we’ve both gone our separate ways since then. Then he joined me at AS Monaco, where he had an amazing start and an incredible first half of the season, scoring a lot of goals! He helped the team a great deal and worked very hard.

Personally, I haven’t had many opportunities to play with him so far due to my injuries; only briefly at Saint-Étienne at the end of last season, so we haven’t had much time on the pitch together. But what’s certain is that Mika is someone I enjoy playing with, and we have a good connection. And I have no doubt that as we play together more, our understanding on the field will only improve.

I think we complement each other very well, especially since I know his strengths very well and he knows mine. (...) Mika is a very talented young player; he has a very aggressive style, he runs tirelessly for the team, and he shows a lot of passion for the game—everyone can see that.

Folarin BalogunOn Mika Biereth

Are you looking forward to seeing what your partnership can achieve?

Obviously, the coach will decide that, and how he sees us performing best. But yes, I think we complement each other very well, especially since I know his strengths very well and he knows mine. Besides, as a professional footballer, it’s also my job to understand how to help my teammates perform better. Mika is a very talented young player; he has a very aggressive style, runs a lot for the team, and shows a lot of passion for the game—everyone can see that. But regardless of who plays alongside me, personally, I have a lot of confidence in this team, and I think we can achieve great things this season!

The group of English-speaking players is growing, anyway…

(Smiling) Yes, that’s true, but believe me, I understand French better and better, and I can even say a few sentences. In any case, I’m trying to improve, simply because I live in France and I want to adapt. And maybe one day I’ll be able to give a full interview in this language! But I’m definitely more comfortable now, and that’s important because I need to make communication easier for my teammates.

Getting back to football, what are your goals this season?

For now, the most important thing for me is to be fit, to be on the pitch, and available for the team. Even though it shouldn’t take too long, that’s really my main goal! And once that’s achieved, I can think more about the number of goals I want to score. I’ve always done it this way since the beginning of my career: first, focus on the matches and our team performance, and then set personal goals. Every season I set myself something to achieve, although the most important thing is to stay fit and available above all else.

Speaking of which, when you see Paris Saint-Germain at the top of Europe with such an incredible team spirit, does that give you any ideas?

It’s certain that this team was built with collective effort as its primary focus. The fact that they won the Champions League and reached the final of the Club World Cup, in addition to their domestic titles, shows that they are the best team on the continent. And above all, it shows that success can be achieved in many ways, and not just by relying on individual stars. In any case, I feel that here at Monaco, we are going to have a long and exciting season, and that we will need every single player.

As soon as I arrived in France, I told my friends: "You can come and play in this league; they really like to give young players opportunities. But you absolutely have to earn your place and be ready, because it won't be easy at all!" It's really tough to make a good impression in this league.

Folarin BalogunOn the level of Ligue 1

The coach reminds us of this at every team meeting; he emphasizes that no one should feel unimportant, because we need to rely on every single member of the squad to be ready at all times. Personally, I’ve always believed that teamwork is the most important thing. Regardless of your role on the team, it’s crucial that whenever you’re called upon, you give your absolute best, because that’s why you’re part of this prestigious club, AS Monaco. Sometimes you have to be willing to do things you don’t enjoy, to make sacrifices. That’s all part of the job, and that’s what being a professional footballer is all about.

What are your thoughts on the French league now, looking back on it with some perspective?

I’ve always said that Ligue 1 is one of the best leagues in Europe. It’s a very tough league, and in fact, I explained this in an interview a long time ago: players like Neymar, Mbappé, and Messi, who played here for several years, have shown in the Champions League, against European teams, that they are capable of scoring goals and performing at a very high level in this league. In any case, I’ve never felt that Ligue 1 was easier to play in than any other league. On the contrary, I’ve always thought it was a very demanding league with a lot of talent.

Have you recommended France to any friends in England?

Yes, but as soon as I arrived in France, I told my friends: “You can come and play in this league; they really like to give young players opportunities. But you absolutely have to earn your place and be ready, because it won’t be easy at all!” It’s really tough to make a good impression in this league.

AS Monaco would not be what it is today without the support of our fans, and that is why they are our top priority. So yes, please continue to support us, and we will do our best to have a great season that everyone can be proud of!

Folarin BalogunHis message to the Monégasque supporters

So, what can we wish for you for the 2025-2026 season?

Personally, I just hope to perform well, stay healthy, and avoid injuries! As for the team, I think we can still improve on last season’s performance. We have a lot of competitions to play in, with Ligue 1, the Champions League, and the Coupe de France, but we have a really good squad to compete well in all of them. The coach’s wish, of course, is that we are competitive in every match in order to improve our overall performance. That’s definitely the Club’s ambition, and that’s how we’re approaching this new season.

Especially since there’s a major event coming at the end of the season: the World Cup in the United States…

It’s true that it’s coming soon, but before that, it’s important to stay focused on my work every day. ​​So I don’t want to think about it too much and let it distract me. I’m fully committed to AS Monaco right now, and I need to stay focused on what I have to do with my club. That’s my approach, and I think it’s the best way for me to have a chance of being called up. When the season is over and we’ve achieved our goals, it will be time to focus on the World Cup in my home country. But for now, what’s most important for me is what I’m doing here in Monaco!

I just want to reiterate how much we appreciate their support, both at home and away. We know how difficult it is for them to travel to watch us play, as it can be very expensive! We are all the more grateful for it, both myself and the entire team. AS Monaco wouldn’t be what it is today without the support of our fans, and that’s why they are our priority. So, please keep supporting us, and we will do our best to have a great season that everyone can be proud of!