Choosing Rangers’ star performer during the 2-1 Europa League victory against Union Saint Gilloise would be like to asking Quentin Tarantino to pick a favorite from his collection of instant classics.
Do you prefer the savagery of Kill Bill? The meandering, comfortable viewing of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood? Or maybe the revenge-fueled exhilaration of Django Unchained?
Do Rangers fans prefer Nico Raskin’s blood-and-thunder ferocity? Vaclav Cerny’s meandering, easy viewing?
Or is Cyriel Dessers, the striker who struggled in Belgian football with KRC Genk, issuing the perfect retort to Union Saint Gilloise supporters who spent much of the pre-match build-up mocking the perceived threat of a man who scored only 11 goals in 42 appearances for USG’s domestic rivals?
Dessers was unable to extend his scoring streak to a fifth consecutive game in Rangers colours.
However, while assisting Vaclav Cerny’s decisive strike ten minutes after halftime – the win securing Rangers’ place in the Europa League last-16 – one of the most divisive figures in the club’s modern history was perhaps only a goal away from his most complete performance yet in that iconic blue jersey.
Belgian press hail Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers delivers a Europa League masterclass.
Dessers was, to put it bluntly, nightmare fuel for the USG backline. Ross Sykes, a Burnley native, will have nightmares for a long time when Dessers tangled him up in knots leading up to Cerny’s well-taken goal.
Dessers proved his point against Belgian opposition two years after Genk brutally dumped the Flemish-born Nigerian at Cremonese, via a loan spell at Feyenoord.
“Cyriel Dessers was by far the best man on the pitch during Rangers vs Union,” local publication Het Nieuwsblad writes in their post-match autopsy, which sees USG end 21st and draw in the last 32.
“[Dessers] in particular excelled.”
To quote Voetbal Primeur, Rangers’ number nine played a ‘shining role’ in win which cemented a top-eight place at the expense of Bodo/Glimt.
Union Saint Gilloise midfielder Noah Sadiki certainly won’t be in any rush to go eyeball-to-eyeball with Dessers again.
Anthony Moris – the goalkeeper who denied the one-time Eredivisie Golden Boot winner from close range at the death – also highlighted Dessers as emblematic of the gulf between the two sides in Glasgow.
“We played well. We created quite a bit. But, if you don’t finish your chances, you can’t win games,” sighs a frustrated Sadiki. “Did I expect Dessers to be so strong? I knew he had many qualities. We talked to each other during the [half-time] break.
“Too bad for us that he provided an assist today.”
“It’s a shame we couldn’t get a result here in Glasgow,” adds captain Moris. “The experience of Rangers was the deciding factor. We played with a young team, don’t forget that. “When you see a [manlike] Dessers playing on the other side…”
Dessers delighted to prove his worth against Union Saint Gilloise
Despite the near-constant scrutiny he is subjected to by fans and pundits alike in Scotland, Dessers is now only 24 goals or assists for 2024/25.
To think, only three weeks ago, Rangers initiated exploratory talks to trade Cyriel Dessers to one of his numerous suitors across the continent.
And, while there is still time, the Gers’ top brass must have had enough of that thought.
“I already received some messages from friends and family during the day, so of course you want to go for it,” Dessers smiles, excited to achieve something he never did regularly at Genk: dominate a Belgian backline.
“I had to take a lot of stick, but I was also able to give it out a few times. It was an entertaining match.
“I just learned on the pitch that we finished eighth and might skip a round. Fantastic! Maybe I might ask the trainer for a few extra days off so I can go to Belgium again…
