By Milcah Tanimu
Rangers boss Philippe Clement has issued a pointed message to Nigerian striker Cyriel Dessers, urging him to be more clinical in critical matches. This comes after a disappointing 3-0 defeat against Celtic in the Old Firm derby, where Dessers missed a crucial opportunity that could have shifted the game’s momentum.
Despite Dessers being the top-scoring Nigerian striker this season, his omission from the Super Eagles squad for upcoming fixtures has sparked discussions. In the recent derby, Rangers fell behind early with goals from Daizen Maida, Callum McGregor, and Kyogo Furuhashi. Dessers, who had a pivotal chance shortly after halftime, failed to convert, missing the target and squandering a potential game-changing moment.
Clement, reflecting on the match, emphasized the need for clinical finishing in high-pressure situations. “We had two significant opportunities early in the game, including one with Cyriel in front of goal. Being clinical in these moments is crucial for changing the game’s momentum,” Clement said, according to Celtic Way. “We had similar chances in the second half but failed to capitalize, while Celtic took theirs. Efficiency made the difference.”
With Rangers struggling to secure victories in the Old Firm derbies last season, the pressure is on to improve performance and avoid repeating past mistakes.
