Dessers: «We’ll fight until the very end»

Cyriel, after eight months of Serie A TIM football, what impression do you have of the league?

“For me, Serie A TIM is one of the most important leagues in Europe and the world. Playing in it is a dream; it’s what I’ve always wanted. Football is very important in Italy; it’s almost a religion and something that is lived and breathed. I’ve done a bit of travelling - for example, I was in Venice and Florence - and have been recognised everywhere. I was a known figure among fans in Belgium and the Netherlands for several years, but practically no one knew me here. However, that quickly changed. The great thing is that, beyond asking for a photo, the fans want to talk to me about football. I am happy with the choice I made!”

What do you talk to the fans about?

“Matches, goals, certain moments and... fantasy football. I recently spoke to some guys who had left me on the bench for the game against Sassuolo, and then I bagged a brace... I told them that they needed to have more confidence in me (he says laughing, ed.)!”

What has been the best moment in the last eight months?

“It's hard to choose a particular moment. Scoring is always fantastic, but if I had to choose one goal in particular, it’d be netting in front of a packed Olimpico in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia Frecciarossa. Such moments are why I chose to come and play in Italy.”

It was a moment that arrived after some difficulties in your first few months here...

“I came here to help Cremonese. I wanted to experience a new culture and league and have the opportunity to come up against the best defenders in the world, as well as great teams in great stadiums. I wanted to put myself to the test and prove that I was up to it. It’s difficult when you arrive in a new environment and start playing in a division with a different kind of football. I had to get used to a different way of working, and it took a bit of time to adapt. However, even if I wasn’t at my best, it was fantastic to immediately be involved in matches of such a high standard. There were some difficulties, but in difficulties, you can learn and improve every day.”

With 11 matches to go and 33 points available, is it still possible to avoid relegation?

“We have to look forward with hope, even if things aren’t going well. We want to continue fighting until the very end and give everything. That’s the team’s character. We haven’t done that badly; we played well at the start of the season in particular but were very unlucky. If a few results had gone differently, we’d be talking about a different season right now. However, as long as there’s hope, we’ll continue fighting.”

On a personal level, the desire to fight has never been lacking...

“When I was 14, I was playing at a low level in Belgium, going to school and living with my parents. Becoming a footballer was a dream but not a very realistic prospect. When I was 16, I got the opportunity to become part of Leuven’s youth setup, which was of a higher standard. Nevertheless, football was still plan B behind studying, and this remained the case until I became a professional player at 19.”

Then what happened?

"My career has always had ups and downs, but I’ve continued fighting. There were coaches who didn’t play me and others who considered me important. My character and determination allowed me to realise many of my dreams: I’ve been involved in a European final, I was the top scorer in the Conference League, and I’ve also played and scored for my National Team. But that still isn’t enough! Some might find it sufficient to play in Serie A TIM and Europe and for their country, but it isn’t for me! I’ve still got many dreams to fulfill, but a lot of hard work will be required to do so. I enjoy everything that comes my way because I know that I’ve earned it with sweat and sacrifice!"

Is there a big difference between fighting for the title and trying to avoid the drop?

“It’s a different experience compared to when I was at Genk or Feyenoord. However, my attitude hasn’t changed; I always want to win. You perhaps have fewer chances to score, but I always try to do my best both in difficult and happier moments.”

Speaking of happy moments, you’ve got a Coppa Italia Frecciarossa semi-final tie to play...

“This is the magic of the Coppa Italia Frecciarossa, and I hope that it’ll continue. After two tough and hard-fought matches against Ternana and Modena, we played two incredible games against Napoli and Roma away from home, managing to win both. It was amazing! We’ll be up against an excellent side in Fiorentina, but we’ll go for it.”

You’ve already faced them in the league, what kind of games were they?

“The first fixture in Florence is illustrative of our season so far: we played well but then ended up losing at last. It was the same against Juventus. In our league match away to Roma, I hit the bar and we lost, but we didn’t want to hide away. We could have done better in Serie A TIM, and we’ll try to do all that we can to make the Coppa Italia Frecciarossa final. It’d be a reward for the city and the fans after a season full of disappointment. Despite everything, our supporters have always been there for us.”

What kind of relationship do you have with the fans?

“Last season, there were always 50,000 fans in the stadium when Feyenoord played home games. It was fantastic, but there’s an incredible atmosphere at the Zini. From the very first match, the fans have always shown enthusiasm, warmth and support. They’re close to the pitch and sing from start to finish. You can hear this out on the field and feel the energy; it’s something that my family and friends have noticed, and they were surprised by it. I feel great in the city. While the people here are passionate, they’re also very polite and respectful. I hope to score lots of goals to give back at least some of what they’re giving me.”

Before the match against Fiorentina, you’ll play Atalanta at home. Is it true that Demiral is the defender you’ve struggled the most against?

"Demiral is one of the most difficult defenders to get the better of, for two reasons. First, he’s quick, intelligent and good in possession. Second, Atalanta play with a man-marking system, meaning Demiral followed me for the whole match when we played them, never taking his eyes off me. The only thing he didn’t do was follow me into our changing room at half-time (he says laughing, ed.)! There are other really good defenders - for example, Smalling or Bastoni - but they give you a bit more space. However, I enjoy these things, and it’s a challenge to come up against these kinds of defenders. It allows you to improve.”

And what about Atalanta?

“It won’t be easy against Atalanta, but we’re ready and will try to produce a big performance. On a tactical level, we’ll have to aim to do something to cause them problems. Gasperini is a great coach and has shown this in Europe, too, but we know what we need to do.” (Photo LaPresse)