Oliver Antman will ‘challenge’ Russell Martin and Rangers coaching staff as Cyriel Dessers outlines post Ibrox dream
Oliver Antman may have only joined Rangers last month, but he’s not the type to hold back if he disagrees with Russell Martin or his coaching staff.
That’s according to one of his former coaches, who explained how the Ibrox side can get the most out of the Finnish winger.
The 24-year-old moved from Eredivisie outfit Go Ahead Eagles in a £3.5 million transfer and made an immediate impact, registering two assists in a 3-0 Champions League qualifying win over Viktoria Plzen on his debut. However, he has yet to score and hasn’t added to his assist tally in six appearances since.
Antman previously spent five years with Danish club Nordsjaelland, where he worked closely with technical director Flemming Pedersen. The experienced coach is confident the winger’s productivity in terms of goals and assists will soon come through at Rangers.
Speaking to The Rangers Review, Pedersen said:
“Oliver is a player who produces numbers, and that’s exactly what every team wants. At Go Ahead Eagles he was a regular starter and consistently delivered. At Nordsjaelland, across six seasons, we also saw that quality in spells.
“He joined us at 17, starting with the U-19s, and I gave him his senior debut in 2019. Even though he never cemented a regular starting spot, he always had the technical ability and strong character. He was driven to improve, eager to learn, and easy to coach because of his inner motivation.
“What’s important for any manager is to really understand Oliver’s mindset. Sometimes he sees the game differently from his coaches or teammates, and you need to tap into that to get the best from him. He’s collaborative but also likes to challenge ideas, which I personally enjoyed because it made me and my staff reflect and learn too.”
In other news, Cyriel Dessers has expressed his ambition to play at the World Cup with Nigeria after leaving Rangers for Greek giants Panathinaikos.
The Dutch-born striker scored 52 goals in 116 appearances during his three years at Ibrox and has netted three times in eight caps for the Super Eagles. He is now focused on helping Nigeria qualify for the 2026 tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Dessers said:
“Playing at the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup with Nigeria would be a dream come true. That’s always the reward if we stay professional, work hard, and perform well in every game.
“What I can promise personally is to always give 100%. I’ll remain fully professional and keep my focus on the ultimate goal.”
