“I felt nothing,” Super Eagles striker Dessers opens up on how he struggled mentally

• Cyriel Dessers opens up to the public about mental health struggles during his time at Feyenoord
• Dessers began seeing psychologist Daan Ruiter during his frustrating spell at KRC Genk
• Dessers reveals he continues to speak to his psychologist once a month, which has kept him grounded

Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers has lifted the lid on his struggle with mental health during his stint at Feyenoord in the Eredivisie. 

Dessers faced a barrage of criticism in his early days as he struggled to adapt to the demands of Scottish football following his £4.5 million move from Italy. This period led him to seek the guidance of a psychologist to help navigate the emotional toll that comes with the ups and downs of football.

Dessers, now 29, shared how his mental battles led him to the doorstep of sports psychologist Daan Ruiter during his time at Feyenoord. Their relationship, born out of the striker’s frustration, has been very fruitful over the last few years, with Dessers continuing to consult Ruiter once a month. 

The Nigerian forward also explained how numb he feels after scoring several last-minute winners prompting him to seek professional help, he said, 

“I felt no emotion, not even after scoring those dramatic winners.”

Speaking to Belgian outlet Nieuwsblad, Dessers confessed that the club’s in-house psychologists never fully earned his trust due to their allegiance to the team, 

“Club psychologists will say you can share anything with them, but deep down, they’re working for the club,” Dessers remarked. 

His decision to work with an external psychologist helped him open up about his struggles and led to a significant improvement in his mental well-being and on-pitch performance.

“In my first season at Feyenoord, I started working with Daan Ruiter. I had just had a very frustrating season at KRC Genk. I felt that I had the qualities to play for a club like Genk, but I ran into Paul Onuachu, who broke one record after another. A very frustrating situation, because you keep doing your very best, while you know that the chance that you will get many minutes is small. And at the same time you still try to be the best possible teammate. The following season I was loaned to Feyenoord with the idea that I would finally start playing.”

Even after moving to Feyenoord on loan, he encountered Bryan Linssen, who started the season in scintillating form, leaving Dessers once again playing catch-up.

But his conversation with sports psychologist Ruiter was a turning point, relieving a significant emotional burden and brightening his career, 

“I don’t think I should have waited much longer. I was close to a burnout,” he said.

Dessers continues to value his mental health and regularly speaks with his psychologist, which has been necessary in keeping his career on an upward trajectory,

“I still talk to Daan every month, and during tougher times, it was even weekly,” he revealed.

Popular Chelsea defender reportedly eyeing Super Eagles switch

Previously, TheRadar reported that as whispers grow louder about Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo potentially switching his international allegiance from England to Nigeria, interim Super Eagles coach Austin Eguavoen has spoken out. 

The 27-year-old defender, born in England to Nigerian parents, has represented England at youth levels but is yet to break into Gareth Southgate’s senior squad. With his omission from the Euros squad, Adarabioyo may be reconsidering his options, making the switch to Nigeria seem increasingly likely.