Liverpool physical performance coach Ruben Peeters played a key role in the development of Rangers’ Cyriel Dessers.
That’s according to the Rangers striker himself, and he revealed this during an interview with Het Belang van Limburg.
The Rangers player had worked under the current Liverpool coach at both KRC Genk and Feyenoord.
Arne Slot took the Belgian to the Eredivisie side in 2021, and Peeters has now followed the manager to Liverpool.
Dessers was on loan at Feyenoord during the 2021/22 season, where he managed 20 goals and four assists from 41 matches. The 29-year-old felt Peeters was held back at Genk, before Slot got the best of him at the Dutch club.
The Nigeria international gives an insight into the key role Peeters had on his career.
“At Genk, Ruben mainly did the fieldwork. I felt he couldn’t quite do his thing there yet. At Feyenoord, Slot gave him much more freedom. Together with Australian physical coach Leigh Egger, he put in something very impressive,” he said.
The Rangers frontman went into detail pm how both the Liverpool coach and Egger improved him fitness, which had a positive impact on his form.
“That year I gained four kilos of muscle mass at Feyenoord. That was the fittest season of my career. I broke all my records in competitions: running distance, sprint distances, high-intensity runs… The credits for that go to Ruben and Leigh,” Dessers explained.
The Nigerian has backed Peeters to continue to impress at Liverpool.
“I have every confidence that he’ll also do the same at such a level. Ruben is a super good performance coach, but also a fine and sincere human being who is tough when he has to be, but also there for you when you need him,” he added.
Dessers joined Rangers in July 2023 and has excelled under Philippe Clement’s orders. Last season, he managed 22 goals and nine assists and has scored two goals this season.
