Following the intense scrutiny during the September international break, Cyriel Dessers has effectively silenced his doubters with impressive displays in Greece, according to Soccernet.ng.
The 30-year-old striker completed a €4.63 million transfer to Panathinaikos this summer from Rangers. However, he had yet to feature for the Greek club before joining up with his national team in Uyo.
Putting past controversies behind him, Dessers has already netted twice in just 176 minutes on the pitch for Panathinaikos, despite still adapting to his new environment.
Cyriel Dessers Shares His Experience at Panathinaikos
When asked about his initial impressions of life in Greece, the former Rangers forward acknowledged that settling in would require some adjustment.
“I’ve been here just over a week now. My arrival was delayed because I had to travel all the way from South Africa after the Nigerian national team fixtures,” Dessers told Sportal.
“It feels great to finally be here after signing the contract and spending ten days with the national team. Being with my new teammates and wearing this iconic jersey is special.”
“The past days have been intense and unique, but stepping onto the field in Volos for the first time was a significant moment, and I’m eager to keep progressing.”
scoring for Panathinaikos” width=”1024″ height=”683″ class=”size-large wp-image-179053″ />Despite featuring in only three matches so far, Dessers has encountered formidable opposition, underscoring the competitive nature of the Greek Super League.
“Looking back at the summer, Panathinaikos faced some challenging fixtures but managed to secure Europa League qualification, which was a key objective,” he explained.
“The league’s start was tough, but after just a week with the squad, I can see the team’s quality. Football often demands more than just skill to win; sometimes luck or tactical tweaks are necessary.”
“From what I’ve observed, we’re set to deliver strong performances this season. It just takes a moment-a single spark-and everything can fall into place,” the Belgium-born Nigerian added.
Having experienced high-stakes derbies in the Netherlands (Feyenoord vs. Ajax) and Scotland (Celtic vs. Rangers), Dessers expressed pride in adding the fierce Olympiacos-Panathinaikos rivalry to his list, especially after scoring in such a pivotal encounter.
“Playing in this derby is a privilege. The matches I’ve been part of in the Netherlands and Scotland are among the biggest of the season for both fans and players,” he reflected.
“This might be one of the most memorable fixtures in a player’s career.”
“Our team showed great quality, and the positive result on Sunday, combined with the vibrant atmosphere, boosted our confidence and belief.”
“We’re motivated and ready to take the next step,” the former Cremonese striker concluded.
Dessers’ recent goal-scoring form is edging him closer to fulfilling his ambition of representing Nigeria in a major international tournament, as he increasingly becomes a key figure under coach Eric Chelle.
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