Steven Thompson fumes at what he saw from Cyriel Dessers in Rangers v Aberdeen Viaplay Cup final
BBC Sportsound pundit Steven Thompson was unimpressed by what he saw from Cyriel Dessers in the Viaplay Cup final against Aberdeen on Sunday (17 December).
The former Rangers striker felt Dessers was not up for the fight when commenting on the under-fire striker’s performance during the first half of the Hampden clash.
Thompson felt Dessers was not physically good enough against the Aberdeen defenders.
In quotes reported by BBC Sport’s live blog of the game (17 December, 3:57pm) he said: “Dessers isn’t enjoying the physical aspect of the battle he’s having with the Aberdeen centre-halves.
“He’s got to do more to win the ball or bring others into play. More often than not he’s been out-muscled and outfought by the Aberdeen centre-halves.”
The Light Blues went on to win the trophy as James Tavernier scored a well-taken second-half goal in a 1-0 triumph.
Under fire
I have to admit, I am starting to feel a little sorry for Dessers, who just seems to be getting it from all angles.
Some of the criticism is justified, absolutely, after all he is a professional footballer so criticism is part and parcel of that there’s no doubt about it.
And it does often seem like one step forward, several back for Dessers, who was on the scoresheet in the crucial win over Real Betis in the Europa League on Thursday.
Against Aberdeen he just looked a lost soul at times. He had a really good chance in the first half if he had just reacted a little bit quicker to what was happening and, well, he didn’t.
It means there are calls for Rangers to sign a new striker in the January transfer window (well, at least one) and Dessers is fast running out of time to prove he is the man to keep hold of the jersey.
In other Rangers news, Dessers was also criticised by a Viaplay pundit during commentary of the game.