Rangers manager Russell Martin has admitted striker Cyriel Dessers’ injury “looks nasty” after the Super Eagles forward left the pitch in discomfort during Tuesday’s Champions League qualifier against Viktoria Plzen.
The 29-year-old almost required a stretcher before being helped off and was later seen wearing a brace on his knee.
Rangers lost the second leg 1-0 at the Doosan Arena but progressed to the next round of qualifying, where they will face Club Brugge.
“Yes, it looks like a nasty one, so he’s in a brace now,” Martin told the Glasgow Times. “We’ll have to just wait and see over the next couple of days, have a scan and see. We’ll keep our fingers crossed it’s not too bad for a big man.”
Cyriel Dessers scored a penalty in the first leg. Photo Credit: Getty Images
The Scottish side’s passage through came despite a performance that left Martin unimpressed.
“I am disappointed we lost, and I am disappointed with how many chances we gave up,” said the 39-year-old. “I think so much of it comes from just being so loose with the ball.
“We were playing against a team that had nothing to lose, who really committed so many numbers, four on the top line, with a heavy press.
Rangers Nigerian striker Cyriel Dessers in pain. Photo Credit: X
“We played through the press a lot in the first half, got into their final third a lot, then just turned the ball over.”
Looking ahead to next week’s tie against Club Brugge, Martin stressed the need for greater care in possession.
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“If we don’t show a bit more care and quality on the ball, I think we will struggle against anyone,” he said.
“They’re a good team, it’ll be a tough game, but I believe that especially at Ibrox and I think we’ll play at home first that can be really powerful for us.
“We have to really embrace the challenge, so I’m excited about it.
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“You expect the level of competition to be good now we’re through to this stage, but we’ll be in it, and we will do our very best to win and put in a performance that we’re really happy with to set up the second leg.”
The first leg will be at Ibrox next Tuesday, with the return at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Belgium on 26 August.
