Derek Clark is in Portugal for Rangers pre-season training camp.

He spoke to Giovanni van Bronckhorst and here is what the Dutchman had to say.

Did you have a chance to recharge the batteries over the summer after a long season?

Of course. It has been a lot, it was a long season. We had a short break in January but then we played all the way to the Scottish Cup Final, which was very good. Once you are in the rhythm you just keep on going. I had time to go home and to be with the family and just not think about football for as long as possible. But of course, you need to have that time off, to refresh and to have the battery fully charged for the next season. It was good. I was at the Grand Prix. I really liked Formula One so I watched it as well. We got to spend a couple of days in Monaco and then the weather in Holland was good so I got to spend a little bit with the family and then work ahead for next season.

How will having a full pre-season help bed in your ideas?

It gives us more time with the players, quality time with the possibility to have good sessions for the week. Normally within the season, it is impossible because you are always in between games and you cannot really train because you have to make sure physically [the players] don’t get overloaded. It is good. We have had good sessions, we have had meetings already and we are working hard to get the squad fully one hundred per cent for the season. We are still ongoing in that but have welcomed John Souttar this season and also Antonio Colak came in [on Thursday]. Hopefully, in the next week we can add some more players.

How has the team evolved over your time at the club?

We changed the system a little bit, not too much, in the first weeks. Eventually, when the season was going and progressing and I had more knowledge about my players, their character, their strengths, we were tweaking it a little bit with some different tactical aspects. I think that is one thing I like about football and working with a group, you are constantly trying new things and developing different tactical things within a game to get stronger, but also to make it difficult for the opponent.

How big are the Champions League qualifiers for the team, especially after the disappointment of last year?

Of course, the season was a big disappointment for the team and for the club to not go to the next round and try to get into the group stages. Now we have two rounds to play to get to the group stages, which is of course very huge. I played in the Champions League, I coached in the Champions League with Feyenoord and I think for a player and also for a coach it is a fantastic tournament to be involved in. That is the ambition of myself and the team and the club to be there in the group stage. We have to be ready when the first games come.

Is it important financially for the club?

Of course. The most important thing is that the money will come in for the club, it is big money, a lot of money, and it goes all the way down. The more money that comes into the club, the more things we can do with the money and also invest. For me it is the same. When we have Champions League money coming in, we have more budget. That is normal. You have to have as big revenues. I am always a player who understands the possibilities within the club, I also did at Feyenoord. I am sure and I know that the club is working hard to get the best possible squad with the finances that we have and Champions League money would give more budget. You can spend more and invest more. There are many, many positives from progressing to the group stages.

Have you had the chance to watch back the Europa League final?

No. No. I haven’t watched the World Cup final back. I remember the game in my head, so I don’t need to watch the pictures of that game. I know exactly what we did well, what difficulties we had. It is still in my mind.

Will losing that game act as fuel for the season ahead?

Of course. We had a disappointment in Seville on that night and then two days after we had the possibility to end the season with a positive. Of course we wanted to win the cup in Seville, that is normal, but sometimes in football it doesn’t go your way. You have to pick up the pieces and keep going again. It was a huge game for us to win the cup that day and I think also that final helped us a little bit going into the break and going into the international games a little bit more positive than if Seville was our last game.

Do you think it will be another tight title race once again?

I think the margin and the difference was really close. If you look back on the season, there were games we should have won and didn’t win and lost important points. I think the season this year will be the same, it will be very close because of course Celtic invested a lot last year in their squad compared to the year before that. I think the margins are really close so it means you have to be ready for the Old Firms but make sure in all the other games you don’t drop too many points. Of course, it is our aim to become champions of Scotland this year.

Do you keep an eye on Celtic and their work in the transfer window?

We are of course concentrating on Rangers and the development of my team and the players we want to bring in. But of course we are going to play against Celtic, going to play against Hibs, Hearts, so of course you will keep their development [in mind] as well because eventually you will face them. It is important to be well prepared and know the squad you are playing against and their qualities as well and how they play. That is for all the teams we are playing. But Celtic will be the team who will push us for the championship again.

What has been your pre-season message to the squad?

It is a new season. We have a lot of competitions that we are in and our goal is to be successful in each one of them. That is the drive that we have to show, that is also why you work hard now. The league starts with the first game against Livingston away, then the Champions League. Once we are in that schedule it is just keep on going, keep on going, and we have to be prepared for that. The character of this team is there, otherwise you wouldn’t get to the final of the Europa League. We have to make sure that last season is done and we have to continue and now we know there is everything to win for.