Cyriel Dessers has vowed to continue to score goals for new club KRC Genk after he completed his transfer from Dutch club Heracles.
Dessers was joint top scorer in Holland this past season with 15 goals and so a lot is expected of him on his return to Belgium with his hometown club, who forked out four million Euros to give him a four-year contract.
Questions have been asked whether he can adjust to life in Belgium, where the defending is believed to be tighter than in Holland.
Dessers himself does not have any doubts.
“I played against Matthijs de Ligt, who was sold to Juventus for 85 million Euros. I think he is a good defender. And he is not alone. I played against good defenders in the Netherlands,” he insisted.
“I know that the Belgians can be a bit scornful about the Dutch league. But it’s a good level.
“Of course I will have to adjust here, I am sure that I will also score my goals here.”
He further said he matured as a player in Holland.
“I went there as a boy and returned as an adult footballer,” he said.
“When I went to the Netherlands, I thought I was training very hard, but now I realise that I was not yet the real top professional. Even though I did my best.
“There is also a certain calmness in my head when I am in front of goal. I also showed that last season, I think. So, I think the best is yet to come.”
The striker, who has opted to play for the Super Eagles ahead of Belgium, said Genk are destined for greatness again after they lost their championship to Club Brugge last season.
“There is a lot of quality in the group, we already saw that last year,” he remarked.
“If we start working hard together and focus, that quality will also come out.
“Then I am sure that we are capable of beautiful things and that we are going to achieve beautiful things.”
