The manager was speaking ahead of tomorrow's Old Firm tie, here's everything he had to say.

How ready are you and the team?

The team arrive in fine form with 10 league wins in a row, this is the biggest test going away from home, albeit our away form has been really good. We’re certainly looking forward to the game.

How much confidence does that away form give you?

We’ve scored a number of goals and still missed big chances to score even more. We’re in a positive place, it’s a game we’ve been looking forward to as a squad. Now, it’s important the players execute the game plan and perform.

What needs to change from that Hampden game?

Both games since I’ve come back, we’ve started too slow and improved after half-time. We need to start well, be strong defensively and carry a big threat going forward with our key players. I think that’s the importance of any big game. Stay strong in your structure and play at the right times to express yourself. We will pick a team to go and win the game.

Is Nico Raskin fit?

Nicolas is fit and has trained all week, so has three or four sessions before him. So no issues with Nico.

Do you need to win this to keep league hopes alive?

I think that’s obvious. Since I’ve come back we’ve had 15 league games, 14 wins and a draw. We’ve played our part, Celtic have as well. The players in that sense have done nearly everything they can do. After tomorrow, we will know if we’re three points closer. Ultimately, all we can do is win our games and it’s Celtic’s league to throw away if you like. It doesn’t look like, outside the games against us, they will drop points.

How do you avoid a repeat of the last trip to Celtic Park?

It’s important we start well. We’re going away with no fans. We need to be strong and win the duels. We were too slow in both games, that’s not the Rangers in this fixture that I remember but it’s the one I’ve inherited. It’s important we show a different face for sure. We have to start big games stronger.

Can you use that heavy defeat as motivation?

It’s a different manager now with some different players coming into this game for the first time and we’re in a rich vein of form. There’s no reason we wouldn’t put a stronger performance in on the back of that. We come off the back of 10 consecutive league wins, that’s not by coincidence it’s because we’re playing very well. All I’ve asked the players is to bring the best version of themselves to the game.

How does the lack of your fans change the dynamic?

Well 600 or 700 is better than none but it’s still a small amount so we have to get on and play the game. I would prefer in this game if there was some fans involved like in any stadium, you want to take your travelling fans. The decision has been made now so we just move forward. It will be the same for Celtic when they come to Ibrox.

Would you like to see big away allocations in the Old Firm return?

I never experienced it. This is my 16th game against Celtic, two have been at Hampden with the split but for all the league games I’ve never known that. I think everybody has an opinion that we should have some fans, hopefully moving forward that will be the case.

How do you improve your performance from last time?

If you look at the majority of our games we’re a possession-based team, it’s important we take the ball, stay with it and get our attackers on the ball. Whether that’s Todd, Malik, Ryan, breaking from midfield. It’s important those guys show their quality and if we get moments, we have to execute. We had big moments at Ibrox and Hampden and didn’t. Ultimately it comes down to the boxes. You’d like to be dominant in between but big games are won in the two penalty boxes. The games are always tight and generally won or lost in moments. It’s important our big players step up tomorrow.

Is this a different team from the Hampden meeting?

It’s definitely a different team to the first game because I’d only been back three or four weeks. The final was hugely disappointing but we’ve bounced back really well. Todd and Nico are big players moving forward, not just this one fixture. They’ve brought nice energy into the group and shown they have got quality moving forwards. This is the start of their Rangers careers and the sort of games they need to play well in.

How important is it to have those fresh players?

Yeah and moving forward there will be more over the next few windows to add energy and change and variety. I think we’ve done reasonably well of late, the league form has been strong. It’s important in these last weeks of the season with three derbies that we continue to show that because it will form and shape people’s futures at the club.

Have your team been good enough on the ball in the last two Old Firms?

I think we have to get closer. We need to get closer out of possession and get up and get closer to people and play with more intensity and play a derby for what it is. We ain’t got time for people to wait. We need to have good energy and good application on the pitch. All of that gives you the foundations to play football. You’ve got to take the football and be good in key moments. Whatever your tactics are in possession it often comes off your organisation, your willingness to press and take the ball. Tomorrow, you have two teams who respect each other and it’s important we impose our style as much as possible on Celtic as much as we can if we want to get a positive performance and result.

How big could a win be for this group?

Obviously, it would be a key thing. Nothing will take away the disappointment we’ve experienced this season, three points tomorrow won’t take that away it will just start moving us in the right direction. We’re certainly a team trying to do that, evolving all the time in terms of the style and ideas I have. A big performance will underline some of the good work going on or keep the noise as loud as it has been.

What’s the emotional build-up like?

I enjoy the big games it’s the reason you work, you're in the game. The eyes of the people are on this game this weekend and that’s a huge privilege to be involved in. Similar to European games and big domestic games. Away from home as well you feel a difference because you know the other team will come for you. We’re going to the home of our biggest rivals who are in fantastic form. We feel we’re in fantastic form so it’s a huge opportunity for both sets of players. Naturally, we want to come away having shown a better face than the last game.

What’s training been like?

The players arrive into the game in a good place, what more could we ask for than our form coming into this game. You try to keep calm and give details. This is two teams who know each other well and this is the fourth game this season. You try to go into the game with familiarity and clarity in terms of the roles that they have, you don’t try to come up with anything new. You try to keep the players stable, focused on what we are and then it’s up to them to execute it. In moments I’ll have to make big decisions to help the team as well. It’s been a really calm week and we’re looking forward to the game.

Are you looking forward to seeing how new players react?

You work with them every day. You want what is best for them, best for the club and you want them to perform well and do well. It’s a big opportunity. I’m looking at players in the bigger games in terms of the decisions I make going forwards. I think that’s fair to say. Most managers are the same, the big games are the ones where you get the best feedback. After, you try to put it all in relation because it is just one performance and three points. Certainly, you look at your players on days like tomorrow and see who can step up and be counted. It will certainly give us feedback, that’s for sure.