Youssef Chermiti has always boasted the physical attributes to become a top striker.
But according to one of his Everton mentors, Dan Micciche, it’s his MENTAL strength that sets him apart. And the Portuguese striker has needed it in abundance during his first year at Rangers.
Chermiti was an Ibrox hero on Sunday when he scored a sensational hat-trick against Hearts as Danny Rohl’s side won 4-2.
His goals were vital to Gers in the context of the Premiership title race as they moved to within two points of the top.
Chermiti’s display – and the adulation he received from the crowd – was in stark contrast to just four days previously at Fir Park.
In a 1-1 draw against Motherwell, he missed a gilt-edged chance to put Rangers 2-0 up in the game.
His lack of goals in Glasgow, since making the £8 million move from Everton in the summer, has piled pressure on his shoulders.
He’s been criticised for failing to even hit double figures yet this term.
That’s despite the fact he’s turned up in big games against Celtic and Hearts, scoring five goals in total against Gers’ title rivals.
But Micciche isn’t surprised by Chermiti’s sheer resilience.
As Everton’s former head of elite player development, he worked closely with the forward who’d arrived on Merseyside from Sporting Lisbon.
As well as being impressed by his ability, Micciche was blown away by Chermiti’s humility and determination to succeed.
He told Record Sport: “What I really liked about Youssef was his mentality.
“He wanted to work and learn. He’s a very polite boy and very humble.
“He had a lot of potential which was the key to Rangers getting him. I think they’re reaping the rewards now for all the work he put in.
“I’m not surprised that he hasn’t let criticism affect him.
“Look at where he’s come from. He arrived at Everton from Sporting Lisbon so he’s played in big games.
“At Everton, it’s not an easy club to play for or work for.
“It’s a passionate club in a passionate city so you must have something about you at 19 to train with Premier League players every day and play against Goodison Park.
“When I was working with him, he was playing in first-team games.
“He played well against Brentford at home and I remember him coming on at Luton in a really physical game and dealing with it.
“So he’s always had a strong temperament. He’s had a few injuries as well that he’s had to cope with.
“When he played in Everton’s U21’s, he was always so humble about doing that.
“He’d turn up, score two goals, then go home. He was always happy to do it.
“And he was playing on crappy pitches against not-so-great opposition, whether it be League One or League Two clubs.
“He’d be playing in front of about 50 people but Youssef would turn up on time and do everything properly.
“He’d always score goals, whether it was penalties, one-v-ones with the keeper, all kinds.
“The key with Youssef is to play to his strengths.
“If you look at a big lad like Peter Crouch when he played – even though he was tall, his strength wasn’t necessarily in the air.
“Youssef is the same. He’s good with the ball at his feet and can get on to things in behind.
“You can easily make him look like a bad player if you ask him to do things he’s not capable of.
“But the Rangers manager is clearly now getting the best out of him.”
Former Ibrox sporting director Kevin Thelwell, along with current Gers technical director, Dan Purdy, were pivotal in taking Chermiti to Everton.
And Micciche is adamant that, while he was around the Toffees’ first-team squad, his underlying numbers matched up to any first-team striker, including the likes of England forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Micciche – who is now head of Al-Ahli’s academy in Saudi Arabia – insists the Premier League club’s plan was always for Chermiti to be their first-choice number nine.
He said: “Yeah, that’s true. His numbers and data at Everton stacked up beside the likes of Calvert-Lewin.
“The plan at Everton was for Youssef to be the club’s number one striker, their first choice.
“There was a clear plan in place and it might have happened if Kevin was still there.
“The strategy obviously went in a different direction.
“But Kevin knows what he’s doing and knows a good player when he sees one – there’s no doubt about that.
“I thought it was a perfect match when Youssef went to Rangers, I was convinced he’d be successful there.
“He’s a young player who needs to feel loved, like we all do.
“He had Kev and Dan at Rangers when he arrived and I know they gave him their full support.
“They told me they wouldn’t allow him NOT to be successful.
“I thought it was a really good move for him.
“What has surprised me is how well he’s done in the big games, compared to other ones.
“When he moved I thought he’d go there and immediately score against some of the mid-range teams in the league.
“But the fact he’s done it in the Old Firm game and now against Hearts, is excellent.”
From his office in Jeddah, Micciche was delighted to see Chermiti bag a treble against Hearts in a crucial game for Rangers, which had the fans singing his name at full-time.
Despite people questioning the signing, he’s urged doubts to remember his age and appreciate his potential.
Because he’s convinced Chermiti will now only go from strength to strength at Ibrox.
He said: “I sense people forget how young he is. You look at his size and he looks older. The fact he was born in 2004 is incredible.
“There were boys in the Everton U21’s who were older than him so he wasn’t even the senior player in those games.
“He’s got great experience behind him already, living away from home and now speaking another language.
“Look at the three clubs he’s been at already in his career, Sporting, Everton and Rangers.
“It’s not easy to win those fans over so he’s done so well.
“He look mid-20’s because of his size and appearance. That’s why it’s so exciting to see where he’ll be in a few years’ time.
“At the end of the season, if he’s got a league winner’s medal his confidence will only grow.
“He hasn’t really had the love from the supporters yet at first-team level, with the fans chanting his name.
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