Rangers Coach Philippe Clement calls for more from Cyriel Dessers beyond goals

Caretaker March 31, 2024

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Rangers manager, Philippe Clement, has expressed confidence in the improvement and potential impact of Nigerian forward Cyriel Dessers at the Scottish club.

Glasgow Rangers coach Philippe Clement has expressed his desire for Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers to have a greater impact on games beyond just scoring goals.

Returning to club action after an eventful international break with Nigeria, Dessers made an immediate impact for Rangers in their Scottish Premiership match against Hibernian on Saturday. The 29-year-old striker found the back of the net with a superb header, doubling Rangers’ lead following James Tavernier’s opener in the 26th minute.

Despite his goal-scoring contribution, Dessers missed out on a chance to add another goal to his tally and was subsequently substituted in the 80th minute. However, just five minutes after his departure, Rangers secured a third goal through Rabbi Matondo, sealing a 3-1 victory at the Ibrox Stadium.

While Clement expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance and Dessers’ goal, he emphasized that there is room for improvement from the striker. Clement believes that it’s not solely the responsibility of the striker to score goals but also to contribute to other aspects of the game to benefit the team as a whole.

In his post-match comments, Clement stated, “Impressed is not the right word with Cyriel. It’s normal, what he can do. And I think there’s still quite some margin to make with him. He’s working hard on that.”

Clement emphasised the importance of having a well-rounded team where goals can come from various sources, including wingers, midfielders, and defenders. He highlighted the need for a collective effort in scoring goals to make the team more unpredictable and challenging to defend against.

Rangers currently lead the Premiership table, holding a two-point advantage over reigning champions Celtic. Dessers’ goal against Hibernian marked his 13th of the season, contributing significantly to Rangers’ successful campaign.

As the season progresses, Clement will be looking for Dessers and the rest of the team to continue their impressive form and maintain their position at the top of the table.