Youssef Chermiti has shrugged off the historic burden of Rangers' No9 shirt, delivering 15 goal contributions last season after a slow start following his £8.5 million move from Everton. The 22-year-old Portuguese striker is now eyeing the Scottish Premiership title alongside new signing Lawrence Shankland under manager Derek McInnes.
No9 Shirt's Heavy Legacy at Ibrox
The Rangers No9 jersey carries immense weight, having been worn by legends like Derek Johnstone, Ally McCoist, and Kris Boyd who thrived under the pressure. However, many others have faltered, including record £12 million signing Tore Andre Flo, and more recently Umar Sadiq, Antonio Colak, and Amad Diallo. Cyriel Dessers scored frequently but only secured runners-up finishes.
Chermiti acknowledged the challenge: "Some people told me not to wear the No9 because there is a lot of pressure. But I said if you don't live with pressure you don't get better."
Chermiti's Slow Burn at Ibrox
His first season began slowly, with his first goal not coming until late October against Kilmarnock, and his second just before Christmas. But a derby double in the New Year Old Firm clash sparked a prolific run, highlighted by a stunning overhead kick against Celtic in March. "Since I was young, I've been trying to score goals like that," Chermiti said. "It's frustrating it wasn't enough to win the match."
New Partnership with Shankland Under McInnes
Rangers finished third last season, with Celtic clinching a fifth straight title. Hearts inflicted early damage with wins at Ibrox and Tynecastle. Now, McInnes and Shankland are expected to lead a revival. Chermiti is optimistic: "The manager can help us all bring success. Everyone knows Lawrence's quality. He's a good finisher. We can help each other."
Chermiti prefers a two-striker system: "Personally, I prefer to play with two strikers. I feel more confident on the pitch." He also praised the squad depth: "We have me, Bojan Miovski, Ryan Naderi, and now Lawrence. Between the four of us, we can bring a lot of good things."
Title Ambitions for the New Season
Reflecting on last season's disappointment, Chermiti said: "The way the season ended hurt us a lot. But that's given us more strength for this season with the new signings. We've had a really good beginning to the transfer window." He added: "We're going for the title."
