Barry Ferguson names the moment Cyriel Dessers realised different pressure of playing for Rangers
A key moment, which might have seemed insignificant to most, would have made Cyriel Dessers realise playing for Rangers is a “different kettle of fish,” according to Barry Ferguson.
Summer signing Dessers opened his goal account for the Glasgow Giants on Wednesday 9 August when the 28-year-old put the Gers two up in the 15th minute during their UEFA Champions League qualifier against Servette.
Despite scoring, the Belgian-born forward, who joined the club from Cremonese on 6 July for an undisclosed fee, caused some frustration among fans when he played a backpass toward the goal, and this would have taught him a thing or two about his new club in the opinion of Ferguson.
“The big man probably thought he was doing the smart thing. He wall-passed it straight back where it had come from towards the centre of the Rangers’ defence, keeping possession safe and allowing the team to build out again from the back,” Ferguson wrote in the Daily Record (11 August).
“And you could almost see the look of shock on his face when the fans grumbled at him in frustration for not turning and driving towards the Swiss side’s back four.
“I’ve been there when new guys arrive at the club and can’t get their heads around this sort of reaction. But the smart ones realised very quickly that playing for Rangers is a whole different kettle of fish.”
Pressure
At many clubs what Dessers did would have been viewed as the smart thing to do. In fact, at some clubs, players might even be encouraged or coached to play the ball back to safety and retain possession, especially when leading the match.
Not at Ibrox. The Gers were two goals to the good after just a quarter of an hour played and all seemed well, with the club’s newest recruits most likely in dreamland. But what they will quickly learn as that this is not enough for the passionate Rangers faithful.
These fans expect dominance from their team, for their players to always be pushing and finding ways to score. Being two goals to the good after just fifteen minutes, they probably saw an opportunity to kill the match off for good. After all, a game is never won at 2-0.
In the end, Servette did pull one back and it made for a more nervy finish than was needed. Next time, Dessers will think twice about passing back.
In other Rangers news, the club want to sign a Championship prospect but face a battle on their hands for his signature.