PHILIPPE CLEMENT believes a last-ditch Cyriel Dessers strike against Dynamo Kyiv can ignite a faltering start to the season for Rangers.
Criticised for missing chances in Saturday’s goalless draw with Hearts, Dessers struck with the last kick of the ball as the Ibrox side claimed a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie in Poland.
After dropping points in their league opener, Clement hopes the Nigerian international’s leveller — deep into four minutes of added time — can kickstart his side’s campaign.
‘This result is very important for the club because you can see the way everybody’s been working and is working to make things better,’ said the Belgian. ‘And I’m full of confidence that it’s going to be a really good season now because of that.
‘The guys from last season, they know what I demand, the mentality I demand to go, to keep on going, to keep on believing until the last second, and they did many times last season also.
Rangers striker Dessers celebrates after equalising in stoppage time against Dynamo Kyiv
Rangers striker Dessers knocks the ball past Dynamo goalkeeper Bushchan
‘In that way, it’s very important also for the new guys who come in to feel that, to see also that you get reward out of that. I’m also really happy that Cyriel made the decisive goal today.’
Dessers claimed 23 goals last season but attracted speculation over his Rangers future after he was persistently linked with a move away from Glasgow over the summer.
Pleased with the character shown by his players after the loss of a first-half goal from Ukraine captain Andriy Yarmolenko, Clement singled out the goalscorer (below) for individual praise.
‘Character, for me, is the basis of everything, and we demand that all the time in every training session, in every game,’ said Clement. ‘It’s crucial.
‘I think the big symbol for that is Cyriel today, because he played a really good game and he had a few good finishes.
‘He didn’t lose his belief and he was there at the decisive moment. That’s what you want for a striker, that they never give up and keep on going.
‘I see a player that, in the last seven months, has developed a lot in many assets, because he wants to learn, although he’s not 20 years old anymore. He’s 29 now, I think, but he takes on every piece of information and I only see him grow the last couple of months in several things that we discussed, that we trained, that we worked on.
Striker Yarmolenko gave Dynamo Kyiv the lead in the first half in Poland
Rangers boss Philippe Clement gives instructions to captain Tavernier
Rangers midfielder Dujon Sterling battles with Dynamo's Justin Lonwijk
‘It was a game where we kept on pushing until the end to get the result, and it was well deserved.
‘So, it was a good game to watch, with two teams showing a lot of quality, but I’m pleased with what the team showed today.’
Dessers also hopes his goal can spark a change in fortunes, the striker adding on RangersTV: ‘I think that this goal is a very good statement and could change the momentum, not only in this tie, but hopefully for us in the coming weeks.
‘We’ve been working so hard, and maybe you don’t see the results immediately on the pitch, but there’s been a lot of work, and moments like this can turn this around and switch things and hopefully things start falling our way.’
Despite the loss of a leveller in the final seconds, Dynamo coach Oleksandr Shovkovskyi insists his side still have it all to play for at Hampden next Tuesday night.
He said: ‘Of course it’s disappoint-ing to lose a goal in the last minute but we realised from the start that the tie would be decided in Glasgow. So we have played only the first half of the tie and we look forward to the second half.’