‘I want to stay here and win trophies’ Dessers determined not to walk away from Rangers in the summer

Cyriel Dessers is adamant he’s going nowhere as Rangers prepare for a summer of upheaval on and off the park.

The Nigeria international netted his 25th goal of the season in the draw against Celtic on Sunday to move up to joint third in the Premiership’s top scorer chart.

Despite netting 47 times for the Ibrox club since signing from Cremonese in 2023, the 30-year-old has been frequently criticised for his poor ball retention and continually linked with moves to other sides.

With Rangers about to move into American ownership and with a new manager likely to be appointed, question marks hang over the futures of the majority of the squad.

But Dessers, who’s contract runs until 2027, insists he’s already focused on leading the line for the light blues next season.

Asked if he still want to be part of what’s coming next, Dessers said: ‘Yeah, definitely. I signed here with a clear intention.

‘I want to win trophies with Rangers, stay here for a few years, build on something. That’s my intention.’

Cyriel Dessers opens the scoring in Sunday’s final Old Firm derby of the season

It was Dessers’ 25th goal of the season – but he has still come in for criticism from fans

Dessers has backed interim manager Barry Ferguson to be handed the job full-time

Dessers offered a strong defence of his displays in a Rangers jersey that have often drawn strong criticism.

‘I think if two years ago, the day I signed, you would tell the fans “this striker is going to score 47 goals in two seasons” I think everybody would have said “oh, yes, please”,’ he added.

‘Could it have been more? Probably yes. Could have been less? Probably yes.

‘So, I’m just trying to do my job. It hurt me a lot in the beginning, but now I kind of moved past that and I’m just focusing on myself, helping my team-mates out, helping the team out.

‘But I think in a team with a lot of ups and downs to score 25 goals, I think that’s a good achievement, and I’m proud of that.

‘There was a point where I wished I could turn it (criticism) around. But if I see, for example, the criticism somebody like Tav (James Tavernier) sometimes gets, with the things he achieved at this club.

‘Then I think it’s always going to be there. Which is okay, it’s part of being at a big club like Rangers. You can feel the hurt in the fans, and they always want more and better. But that’s also what we want as players, and I know it’s not always easy, but we all want to go in the same direction, together with the fans.’

Meanwhile, Dessers believes Barry Ferguson has the credentials to continue in the post on a permanent basis.

Appointed interim manager after Philippe Clement was sacked, the former skipper has won just four games out of 12 but contends that he knows what’s required to turn the club’s fortunes around next season.

And Dessers said: ‘If there is a decision to be made, he knows the club in and out.

‘He knows the fans, he knows the DNA. He has the DNA of the club inside him. If I look at his speech before the game, you feel the Rangers DNA, and he can transfer that to the group as well. So, I think that’s a big positive for him.

‘I think Barry came in at a very difficult moment for the club. We were very deep and he kind of got us out of it.

‘He brought some togetherness to the team. He didn’t complicate things too much. He noticed that we have difficulties with being consistent and performing week in, week out, at home and away. So, it’s not been easy for him, but I think he showed something.’

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