Cyriel Dessers was the hero for Rangers at Hampden – now he has his sights set on Celtic.
The Nigerian international, 29, scored both goals for Rangers as they overcame Hearts 2-0 at Hampden to book a date with destiny come the end of May.
But before then Rangers will have to wrap up their Scottish Premiership campaign with it all to do after a disastrous week at Ibrox was salvaged in Glasgow.
A drastic five game Scottish Premiership run has handed the title advantage to Celtic but Cyriel Dessers insists Rangers can still turn it around.
What’s more, the striker reckons that in doing so Rangers can prove to Celtic that they are the “best team in the league”.
Dessers: Rangers are Scotland’s ‘best team’
These are the comments which have a penchant for coming back to haunt you.
Nonetheless, Cyriel Dessers has been out in defiant mood talking to BBC Sportsound (live 21/04/24) after playing the Hampden hero for Rangers.
The striker has claimed that Rangers are now set to view their final six game run as a mini-league with the club’s sights set on a remarkable treble.
But whilst soundbites about title ambitions are all well and good, Cyriel Dessers has prodded our Old Firm rivals by claiming that on their day Rangers are the “best team” in the country.
“We have six more games and everything to play for,” said Cyriel Dessers. “I think we have to view it as a new league starting next weekend.
“We know what we have to do to go to the title, to win the title, and I think we’ve got everything to do that as well and hopefully we can execute it on the pitch.
“If you look at the last months we showed what we’re capable of and I think it’s just the thing to find this vibe back.
“If we can find that rhythm back then I think we’re the best team in the league and hopefully we can show that in the next games.
“It’s not only us 11 or 15 on the pitch. It will be with everybody together, players, staff, especially fans, everybody in and around the club and I think altogether we can do this.”
Rangers striker hopes for Hearts title bounce
Cyriel Dessers also reckons that Rangers’ victory over Hearts at Hampden can inspire their title tilt.
Claiming that the team can be happy with the result as the “pressure” rises, it’s clear the big man is hungry for more success.
After a deadly double ensured safe passage to the first Old Firm title in 22 years, the striker is hoping that there is more to come.
“I think the (Hearts victory can give us a boost) because obviously the pressure is rising after the week we had and then to do it in the big moments today against a good team, I think we can be happy with this performance and this result,” said Dessers.
“To score in a semi-final for Rangers feels very good but like I say, I want more, I want goals, I want more wins and hopefully more trophies as well.”
Cyriel Dessers’ double v Hearts means the striker has now scored 19 goals for the season.
