Cyriel Dessers celebrates 50 Rangers goals but admits season has been 'painful'

Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers revealed his pride at scoring 50 goals for the club – but admitted finishing the season without silverware was “painful”.

The Nigerian forward scored a double in his side’s 3-1 win over Dundee United on Wednesday night, with the second goal making it a half-century of goals in two seasons at Ibrox.

Dessers admitted it was a “special” feeling to reach that landmark number, and thanked club captain James Tavernier for stepping aside from penalty duties to allow him to score from the spot.

“50 goals in two seasons,” he said. “Yeah, it makes me very proud to achieve this milestone for a big club like Rangers in the first place.

“It a very special feeling.

“And to do it at the Ibrox in a game you win is obviously a very nice feeling.”

“I have to thank Tav for it because obviously normally he’s the number one taker and he does it very well.

“It says a lot about him because we all know that he also loves his goals, loves his set-pieces, his penalties, corner kicks, free-kicks, and he takes them all amazingly.

“To give this one to me, I think speaks for him as a person and as a captain, so really thankful that.”

Though he hit a personal milestone, Rangers’ tumultuous season is coming to an end without any silverware or domestic success and the forward admitted that was tough to take.

“That’s very painful, because obviously when you score this number of goals, you hope you can keep something in your hands as well,” he said.

“But this will only give more fuel for the summer, to work hard in the summer and go again and never give up.

“I think that’s something that you have to say as a team, whatever happened, we never gave up, but we know we need to do better.

“And we will hopefully do it.”

Dessers still has two years left on his current contract at Ibrox but, with a take-over, a new manager and a squad rebuild all expected in the weeks to come, there’s plenty of doubt over his future at Ibrox. The forward has divided opinion and caught the eye for missed chances as well as spectacular goals, but he hopes to be part of a bright future at the club.

“I think my ambitions are clear,” he ssaid.

“This season’s been very bumpy, and I want to do better myself, I want to do better as a team, I want to win trophies and if they need me, I will be there.”