So far this season, the big difference between Cyriel Dessers and Danilo is that the latter has scored goals for Rangers when he has been given the chance to.
Rewarded for his match winning goal against Hearts with a start at Dens Park, the Brazilian took little time to show that he should be Philippe Clement’s first choice striker – and he more than justified his inclusion.
Danilo maybe didn’t get Rangers opening goal, however, his role in Ryan Jack’s opener was picked up by The Rangers Review’s Jonny McFarlane.
Danilo given Rangers backing to lead the attack
Posting on X, the respected journalist was quick to highlight one main difference between Clement’s two main strikers.
“Once again, Danilo shows the value of a player running in behind which Rangers don’t have without him. He made that goal with a simple, but sharp run.”
Pace always causes defences problems especially when it has defenders running towards their own goal as Dundee’s had to when Danilo’s shot was perked by Trevor Carson.
Had Dessers started instead, not only would he probably not have made the same run, but there is every chance that he wouldn’t have been quick enough to get the shot away.
There have been occasions when Rangers have played passes in behind opposition defences but Dessers hasn’t been able to capitalise, situations that Danilo would have thrived in.
There is a reason Rangers paid a reported £6m for the 24-year old, he scored goals for Feyenoord and has always had potential when he was coming up through Ajax’s academy.
His first start for a couple of months produced a goal and an assist, exactly what our number nine should be doing.
It’s not the sort of fee that Rangers have been paying recently so it shows just how much they are backing him to produce the goods.
Now that Danilo is fit and making an impact again, Rangers have to play to his strengths with the sort of passage of play that let to the opening goal the perfect example of how to use him.
