'I didn't want to leave' - Dessers eyes 'special' European run

Dessers said there was interest from other clubs in the first half of January

Cyriel Dessers believes "something special is possible" for Rangers in the Europa League, with the striker "very happy" to still be at Ibrox.

The 30-year-old admits that he was unsettled in early January but a run of goals has paved a way back to a starting place in Philippe Clement's side.

"At the beginning of the month I was not playing a lot," he said when asked how close he was to a possible move away.

"As a striker on double figures, there is going to be interest. Teams were asking 'is something possible?'

"But I am here now three weeks later and I'm very happy.

"I didn't want to leave, but I want to play. The last few weeks I've been getting into better form, the team as well."

Dessers is on 18 goals for the season, with six coming across four matches last month.

Two of those came as a substitute, leading to a run of three starts, including the win over Union St Galloise that earned Rangers automatic qualification for the last 16 in the Europa League.

And Dessers, who reached the Conference League final with Feyenoord in 2022, a week after Rangers lost out to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League final, has his sights on further progress.

"The confidence we get from the European games is huge," added Dessers. "So something special is possible.

"Against some very good teams, we showed we can compete. I think we had the most difficult programme of everybody in the Europa League and still we got into the top eight. That is a massive achievement.

"There are no easy games but the more you progress, the more it becomes 50-50, even against big clubs. Everything is possible in a quarter-final or a semi-final."

Three of Dessers' goals came against Fraserburgh in the last round of the Scottish Cup, with Queen's Park visiting Ibrox on Saturday.

The striker insists he and his team-mates have not given up on the league but given Celtic hold a commanding lead and edged Rangers out in the League Cup final, the tournament takes on added significance.

"We are even more aware that this is a big opportunity," said Dessers. "We need to go full and seize the chance.

"I am feeling well at this moment but in the last few games I think the whole team shares this feeling. There are a lot of positive vibes."