Cyriel Dessers’ woes look set to continue despite Philippe Clement arrival at Rangers
After Philippe Clement was announced as Rangers boss, there is a sense of anticipation around the club as fans look forward to seeing what he can do, but Cyriel Dessers may not benefit from his arrival.
Dessers has had an awful start to his Ibrox career after Michael Beale signed him in the summer, with just one league goal in seven league appearances so far. The new boss’ style of play does not look like it will help his cause.
As shared by the BBC [16 October], Clement likes to set up his teams to invite pressure from the opposition, before breaking quickly and looking to create space in behind for his strikers to run into.
This may be a problem for Dessers, who is listed by WhoScored as having “very weak” offside awareness, which they claim is the biggest issue in his game, and which does not suit the new manager’s style at all, with the strikers looking to beat offside traps.
With Sofascore showing he is offside 1.3 times per game, the Nigerian forward also does not possess great pace and prefers to play with his back to goal, holding up the ball and bringing his teammates into play rather than breaking quickly and getting in behind.
He is also more of a penalty box striker, one who can get on the end of chances rather than forging them himself with his movement and darting runs, but that may prove a benefit to him in a way.
With the likes of Abdallah Sima willing to run in behind and use their pace at every opportunity, if they can do so and leave Dessers in the middle to make the most of the chances if the ball is delivered into the box.
It will be a fresh start for everybody at Rangers despite their difficult start to the season, but Dessers will certainly have to up his game, and perhaps even take on a new role, to avoid being left out for players who suit the new boss’ style more than he does.
In other Rangers news, Clement already has a problem to deal with after star player turns in 0% international display.