Character – Rangers manager shuns Cyriel Dessers’ critics

Rangers head coach, Barry Ferguson, has defended Super Eagles striker, Cyriel Dessers after the Nigerian was criticized for his profligacy in front of goal, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 30-year-old forward, in his time at Rangers, has blown hot and cold. On some days, he plays like the best striker in the world, and on other days, he doesn't know where the goal is, showing his power to frustrate and mesmerise in equal measure. An interesting dichotomy.

One such example was in yesterday's 4-3 win over Dundee at the Scot Foam stadium. The former Cremonese man scored the winner, but prior to that, he had shot on goal twelve times without finding the back of the net.

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What Ferguson said

After the game, Ferguson chose to look at the positives of Dessers as a whole and praised the Nigerian for not always giving up when things do not go the way he wants, which seems to be a general conundrum with the ex-Feyenoord man.

“He puts himself in brilliant positions, he can get frustrated and start feeling sorry for himself, but he keeps going. He got his reward with the winner.

“Even before I took the job, I always said the big guy would keep going. If he got criticism from fans and the media, the big man just rolls his sleeves up.

“I didn’t think it would affect him, and it never affected him. He kept going. If you have that type of character, then you get your rewards in the end,” the former Rangers midfielder said in quotes revealed by Rangers News.

While there's barely anything left for Rangers to salvage domestically, the fighting spirit they displayed yesterday will be crucial in their UEFA Europa League campaign.

He’s totally class, he’s utterly shite, Cyriel Dessers, won’t score but he might ! https://t.co/gOxWyXlZoY

— sophie (@sophie72_) March 29, 2025

The Gers will play against Athletic Club in the Europa League quarter-final on the 10th of April. The first leg will be played at Hampden Park, giving the Scottish side the home advantage.