Cyriel Dessers uses Celtic celebrations to fuel Rangers revenge bid as he reveals trophy gut instinct

Cyriel Dessers limped out of Hampden in a protective boot.

But the Rangers ace insists he can’t wait to march into next season after being fired up by the scenes of Celtic’s celebrations. The Ibrox hitman’s campaign ended early at Hampden as he was forced off at half-time with an ankle injury. The knock left him sitting helpless in the stands as Adam Idah pounced to ram home the Hoops’ last-minute winner and snatch the Scottish Cup for Brendan Rodgers’ jubilant side.

As Philippe Clement and his team trudged down the tunnel with their runners’ up medals, the Celtic end was in full party mode as the Parkhead club celebrated lifting the trophy for the sixth time in the last eight years. But having afforded himself one backwards look at the joyous green and white sea in the stands, Dessers insists he’ll carry those images forward as he looks to turn the tide next season. “Everybody is devastated,” said the Nigerian. “We were close and we played a good game. It wasn’t an easy game and if you lose it that way in the end then obviously it hurts.

“It’s been a heavy season, that’s for sure in all kinds of ways. It’s easy to all go down now in energy and everyone needs to take a rest. But to see them celebrate today and 10 days ago gives me a lot of energy to go again this summer. It maybe seems weird to say now but I cannot wait for pre-season to start again and to do better than this season. I’m looking forward to that.”

Dessers insists Rangers must take the pain of losing out on the Premiership crown and the Cup and use that as fuel to fire next season’s efforts. “Yes, that’s it,” he said. “We have to turn things over in our favour. We’re on a good path but we’re not there yet. If you look at the balance at the end of the