Only one week ago did it look like Cyriel Dessers might be heading out of Rangers.
But over the course of last seven or so days, the big Nigerian striker has fired his way back into the hearts of Rangers supporters.
The Ibrox support are notoriously hard to please but given the weight of the number nine jersey Cyriel Dessers has had to put up with more than most.
And despite suffering the ignominy of being booed whilst waiting to be substituted onto the park at Ibrox against Aberdeen this season, the positive striker is determined to focus on the good times.
Cyriel Dessers says boos are ’hard to take’ at Rangers
Cyriel Dessers’ positive attitude is at odd with the barrage of criticism the striker has often received at Rangers.
Despite a return of 22 goals last season – a record the striker is on target to beat with 18 strikes already this campaign – Rangers fans have routinely gutted the hitman.
Dessers is an enigmatic striker who at his swashbuckling best will break down defences and find space to score a screamer against all the odds.
At his worst the ex-Feyenoord forward will miss a tap in from yards out.
It’s that lack of consistency, and as such reliability, that has the Rangers fans on his back.
But the hitman just focuses on the positive as he reflected on yet another stunning effort in the win over Dundee United.
“Yeah, that’s not easy,” Dessers said when asked about those boos against Aberdeen.
“That’s quite hard to take. But on the other hand, I’ve had a lot of positive interaction as well with fans around the stadium in the city, and I try to take that to heart.
“And when I get out there, I just want to fight with my teammates who I see every day, who respect me, who know the effort I put in in the training ground and then to win like this.
“That just makes me very happy.”
Rangers striker cites James Tavernier example
Cyriel Dessers isn’t the only Rangers player who is feeling the brunt of criticism from Ibrox fans.
Club captain James Tavernier was on the receiving end of unacceptable abuse after an Old Firm humbling in the first game v Celtic this season.
Dessers pointed to the skipper as a stand-out example with Tavernier’s contribution to Rangers over the years nothing short of monumental.
Whilst the pressure is always there in Glasgow, Dessers insists you need to find a way to enjoy the ‘beautiful moments’ which make it all worth it at Ibrox.
“I know at this club, things can change very fast as well,” said Dessers.
“For example, the stick that a player like Tav gets sometimes, he’s a Hall of Fame player, he has scored more than 100 goals for this club, 400 games, all of this.
“And then I’m thinking, maybe there will always be something to talk about.
”But I just try to enjoy the beautiful moments at this club and I’m lucky that I have plenty of these and those are way more important to me than the few negative moments.”
