In 2021, Dessers made the move from Genk to Feyenoord on loan due to a lack of playing time in Belgium. This wasn’t his first experience in the Eredivisie; he had previously played for Heracles Almelo and FC Utrecht.
However, the Nigerian striker found it challenging to settle in, facing competition from Bryan Linssen, the team’s established starter at the time. Additionally, Feyenoord fans were not fully supportive, often jeering at him during matches.
As his struggles mounted, Dessers began to feel mentally drained. To cope, he sought help from a psychologist, a decision that proved beneficial for him.
“That conversation lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. I don’t think I should have waited much longer. I was really close to experiencing burnout at that point,” Dessers told Het Nieuwsblad, as reported by Feyenoordpings.
“After that, I started scoring, and I never really stopped. My career kept progressing, and I owe much of that to those discussions. I still speak with him every month.”
Clearly, consulting a psychologist made a significant impact on Dessers’ performance. That season, he netted 20 goals and provided four assists in 41 appearances, helping Feyenoord reach the final of the UEFA Europa Conference League, where he scored nine goals. He also emerged as the competition’s top scorer that season.
