CYRIEL Dessers fired Rangers into a Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final against Celtic at Hampden this afternoon with a double against Hearts – then claimed the Ibrox club are the best team in Scotland.
Dessers broke the deadlock in the first-half of the semi-final and then netted again in the second-half to secure a 2-0 victory for Philippe Clement’s side against Steven Naismith’s team.
The Nigerian internationalist, who took his tally for the 2023/24 campaign to 20 with his brace, was delighted with the performance and result and has set his sights on landing more silverware on May 25.
The £4.5m summer signing insisted that Rangers, who are three points behind leaders Celtic in the cinch Premiership table with five games remaining, are the best team in the country after picking up the Man of the Match award.
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The Govan giants lost 3-2 to Ross County at the Global Energy Stadium last Sunday and were held to a 0-0 draw by Dundee at Dens Park on Wednesday night and many fans and pundits believe they have blown their chances of being crowned champions as a result.
However, Dessers is still confident that they can come from behind and complete the second leg of a potential world record-equalling eighth domestic treble during the remaining weeks of this term.
He was impressed with how his team mates responded to the abuse they have received, including from their own supporters, in the past seven days and believes that augurs well for the run-in.
"I'm really happy with the goals,” he said in an interview with BBC Radio Scotland. “That was a beautiful day to do that in front our fans at Hampden, that was special.
"Today I could have played better. When you score two goals in a semi-final, you have to be happy with that, but we want more.”
"We have six more games and everything to play for. It's a new league starting next weekend and we know what we have to do to win the title. Hopefully we can execute that on the pitch.
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"The pressure is rising after the week we had. To do it in the big moments today against a good team, I think we be happy with the performance and result. We can look with confidence to the next games. I want more goals, I want more wins, and hopefully, more trophies as well.
"If you look at the last months, we showed what we're capable of. It's just the thing to find this vibe back. If we can find that rhythm back, I think we're the best team in the league."
Rangers will now play Celtic, who beat Aberdeen on penalties yesterday, at Hampden on May 25 in the first Old Firm Scottish Cup final since 2002.
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