Giovanni van Bronckhorst Q+A in full: Alfredo Morelos fitness and Antonio Colak's goal threat

What will Antonio Colak bring to your squad?

He is a very experienced player, who has played at a high level and scored a lot of goals with his teams. We want to add players to our attacking options, Colak is an option we welcome. He’s going to give us a lot of strengths up front and hopefully, he will do well. He will feel very welcome and we’ll prepare him for the important games coming up.

How important was it to strengthen up top?

We need goals, we want more goals this season. Everyone in the team can score goals of course, but we want to have more options. Colak’s deal took a bit longer than I expected but we are happy to welcome him.

How was your summer after a crazy season?

It has been a busy half year with a lot of experiences and emotions in the games we played. We were happy with our European run which provided some great memorable nights. The one night in Seville we couldn’t win, but I was happy with our run and how we represented the club in Europe. Of course, a couple of days later we won the Scottish Cup final which meant silverware for the club. In the league, we couldn’t retain the title which was a disappointment. 

In the five weeks you’re off (over summer) you have to have a good rest but also reflect on the last season and look ahead to the next season, which we are doing right now. It’s a new season, we want to do well in Europe again and have the chance in August to qualify for the Champions League. We will do everything we can to achieve that. And of course, in the league we want to have a really strong start, so we have some weeks to prepare and at the end of July we have the squad almost the way we want it. We have to start well, everyone is focused on being stronger, mentally prepared and tactically prepared because we’re going to face good teams in August.

How can you build on the impressive fitness from last season?

We have to give the same physically as last season, we start in August and July with two games a week. We have done that lots last year, so we must make sure everyone is prepared. With team selection, we want all players available to be picked. That’s our aim to start the season with everyone fresh physically and mentally for the tough games ahead. Until mid-November, it’s going to be a hectic season with plenty of games. We only have one international break in September but then play twice a week and you want to make sure you’re ready for the months ahead with the World Cup break, it’s strange to have a fix/six-week break in between those matches in November, we start again in December and must make sure the players are prepared in those five weeks to go again in December. We will be ready for the first part and we want to have a successful section, have a break and go again. Our focus is on the start of the season at the moment.

How are Alfredo Morelos, Ianis Hagi and Filip Helander?

Filip is doing really well, he’s played a part in our sessions here in Portugal, his recovery is going well. Alfredo hasn’t taken part in our sessions but is working hard to be back as soon as possible. Ianis is having his rehabilitation in Holland, but it’s good to have him here with us again for the week, his recovery is going as planned. He will return to Holland to get back to fitness soon as well.

Why were you so keen for Steven Davis and Allan McGregor to stay?

I’m really happy with them and their performances. Players with experience in your team are very important. They’re important in the changing room and their playing ability is also there, for me as a coach that’s a win-win situation. I think we have a good mix of experience, those coming into their prime and also some young, exciting talent who will develop into important players for this club.

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How much of this pre-season is about getting your ideas across to the squad?

It’s continuing the work we’ve done in recent months, it’s different when you start your Rangers career with two games a week, there’s almost no time to train. It’s good to start all over again now, the way of playing, my ideas, the way we want to play as a team is much clearer with the players than it was at the beginning. They’ve adapted really well and that’s why we played some really good games in the last six months. In the end, it’s all about prizes, we won a big prize with the Scottish Cup but also missed out on a really important trophy. Last season is history, we now look forward to this season and providing more silverware for this club.

What does it mean to have a record-breaking number of season tickets?

It’s everything for us, the fans are so important to this club. I have had the feeling I had as a player, knowing how important the supporters are in the games. It’s great to have a big support and this season it will be a full house at home. As a coach and as a group of players it’s a privilege to wear the colours, play at Ibrox and do everyone we can to bring this club success.