An insider insists the player will hold the management team to account
11:16, 07 Sep 2025Updated 19:36, 07 Sep 2025
Oilver Antman(Image: SNS Group)
Oliver Antman only arrived at Rangers last month – but he won’t be shy in challenging Russell Martin and the coaching staff at Ibrox if he doesn’t like what he sees.
That’s the view of one of the Finland star’s former coaches, who has given an insight into how Gers can get the best out of the winger.
Antman, 24, was snapped up in a £3.5million deal from Eredivisie side Go Ahead Eagles and got off to a flyer at Ibrox by bagging two assists on his debut in a 3-0 win against Viktoria Plzen in Champions League qualifying.
The 24-year-old has been unable to add to that tally in his six subsequent appearances in all competitions as he awaits his first goal.
Antman previously played for Danish outfit Nordsjaelland between 2019 and 2024 and it was there that he came into contact with the club’s technical director Flemming Pedersen.
And the veteran coach is in no doubt that Antman will soon be racking up his tally for goals and assists.
Speaking to The Rangers Review, he said: “He contributes in terms of his numbers. That is what we all want from players, we need outcomes.
“We have seen last season when he played in Holland, when he was a regular in the team, that he got those outcomes more often. At FC Nordsjælland where we played for six years, we saw that in spells.
“He came when he was 17 and started in the Under-19s. In the spring of 2019, I gave him his debut while he was still an Under-19 player. He never, even though he was there six seasons, was a regular in the starting team.
“He had the technical qualities to play in Nordsjælland and also the character. He wanted to get better, he wanted to learn. He was easy to work with because he has this intrinsic motivation to improve and better himself.
“It is also important for a manager to get into the head of Oliver because he is the type that sometimes he can have a different idea, so it is important that you understand that and understand him. Sometimes Oliver will see things that maybe his coach or his team-mates is not seeing, so you have to get into his head to get the best out of him.
“You can collaborate with him. My personality is that I like to be challenged, because then I have a chance to learn myself too. While Oliver was playing at Nordsjælland, sometimes he could challenge me and my staff. That is always interesting because you need to see it from his side.”
Meanwhile, Cyriel Dessers has declared his harbours dreams of going to the World Cup with Nigeria after sealing his Rangers exit.
Cyriel Dessers
The Dutch-born forward has joined Greek giants Panathinaikos following three seasons at Ibrox where he netted 52 goals in 116 matches.
Dessers has three goals in eight caps to his name with the Super Eagles so far and is determined to help them reach the finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico next year.
He said: “It would be a dream for me to go to the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup for Nigeria. That would be an absolute dream come true.
“That would always be the result if we work well, keep being professional, and we play each match well.
“What I will personally promise is that I will give 100%. I will be a top professional and always focus on the main goal.”