The Rangers manager Philippe Clement was speaking ahead of his side's Europa League clash with Lyon - here's everything he had to say.

The Ianis Hagi news, how do you react?

That it was a contract issue from before my time so the issue is solved. Both parties, the club and Hagi, came together and now it is resolved. It’s normal he is back in the squad training and it’s getting him back to his best level, that’s the job to do.

How does that feel from a football perspective?

Yes it’s not an option yet, there is a way to go. The more players you can have to make a difference the better as a gaffer. Clearly I am happy this situation that I didn’t like to have is resolved.

Could you get involved to urge both parties to sit down?

I don’t want to respond to that, it’s internal business.

Your reaction to Dujon Sterling’s new contract?

Dujon showed several good things last and thing season. For me more last season than this season. He has struggled a bit with his fitness so we need to get him better in that way. He deserved this new contract, we believe a lot in his qualities for the future and he has shown in different positions that he will fight for the club and the squad. It’s important to keep those players in the club for the future.

Is it important that Dujon settles into one position?

Yes of course, but you need to show that you can play 10 games in a row in that position, he can compete in a lot of positions with a lot of players but you need to show consistency and that is what we are going to work on with him in the next couple of months, to make him that kind of player. Then he can compete in different positions but the idea is to do it in one.

Is there anything you can say about how Ianis has behaved?

He has behaved all the time well, our contact was good all the time. There was never a problem between us, we met a lot in the building. He did everything you’d expect from a professional player. In those situations it is not always the case but he has been an example in that way for sure.

How far behind the rest of the group is he?

It doesn’t work that way, he has trained one time. He trained all the time with second team and the games to keep his fitness high as possible. We will see the next days and weeks how that is. It’s about fighting for the places in the squad and the team.

Do you have an idea where Dujon will end up in terms of his position? 

Yeah I have an idea for the future but it’s too fast to say it.

Ianis is like a new signing? 

Yes for sure in that way as I was never able to work with him and have him in my squad.

What about the Europa League seems to bring out the best in Rangers? 

It’s a totally different competition, you need to do other things. It gets the best out of the players and the crowd. The European nights were the most special and I hope to see that tomorrow. Of course, we are also realistic about a very good team in Lyon. For me, it is the level of Benfica, who we met last season. If you see the difference in budget and the money they’ve spent, I know a lot of players from my time in Monaco and those they brought in for 20, 25, 30 million - it’s a different world and we know that. But we will fight with our qualities towards them like we did against Betis or Benfica. 

Did Ianis make a sacrifice?

Both parties worked towards eachother and found eachother eventually, so that’s a good thing.

How is your squad looking?

Mohamed Diomande is back in the squad. Ridvan Yilmaz is training with the team but he will not be ready to be selected yet, it’s too early and dangerous. We need to be careful with that.

Two wins to start the Europa League would feel huge?

Yeah it would but also, winning against Lyon would be a huge thing. Even a draw would be a very good result if you see the budget difference. So we go full for that and the three points, not to play only for one point. We need everyone on top and a few players to go above their level, to have an amazing evening with the fans like a 12th player on the pitch.

Lyon have had financial problems, would it be foolish to underestimate them?

If you speak about financial problems and you take a look at what they’ve spent… then I would like to be in financial problems to be honest! I don’t think that is the case. They have spent a lot on experience and young talent. They bought two players in Genk for £34million. To speak about those prices is a different world but that’s the challenge and a nice thing also. You want this competition to compete with the best. My players learned you can grow out of the Betis and Benfica games. My team needs experiences like that to become better. 

How pleased have you been with Propper and Souttar?

It’s better and better, we also have Leon Balogun still there who is excellent in his role, showing quality in training. We have Nana who can play centre-back or Dujon. The partnership has been good and it’s also important with new players you create connections and a partnership so they can get to know eachother. You can add Jefte also in that way. Half of the defence is new, our No.6 is new so you need to find the balance which is better and better. What is true is if you take the lessons out of every debrief and they are really hungry to get better, to make fewer mistakes, you see it’s positive we have four clean sheets in a row.

Nico Raskin, why was he brought off at half-time vs Hibs?

It was a tactical thing in the game. For him his role has changed this season compared with last season in midfield, we do slightly different things so he needs to adapt in that way and like with every player, we showed after the images. He is hungry to learn and he will become better. Nico can do two roles in the midfield, the role of Connor Barron also. It’s about learning and getting better in that way.

How important is it to use the ball with purpose tomorrow?

It’s very important but it’s also an important balance, you can play every ball with purpose to make it decisive but then you are going to lose a lot of balls. Sometimes the moment is not there and you need to move an opponent before playing that ball. In that way I think our best performance was in Malmo, you need to move the ball and not every ball was a direct kick to the attacking players or striker. But to get them out of position to then make descivei passes. We are working hard on those things, to have purpose but it can also be your purpose to move an opponent to get the space after. Purpose is not only to go as fast as possible towards goal, then you will lose the ball too much and you get a basketball game.