Philippe Clement has spoken to the media after the 2-1 Premiership win over St Mirren at Ibrox. Here is what he had to say.

Is that a relief to emerge with three points, Philippe? 

A relief? No, it's a normal result after this game. The only thing that you miss there is the third goal in the second half. And we were several times really close with blocked shots, good saves of the goalkeeper also, the chance with Václav, really good attack and an amazing save of the goalkeeper. Then you need to dig in until the last minute, what the team did without giving anything away in the last 15 minutes, so that's really important.

Cyriel had to apologise to you after the game on Thursday, but is this part of the goal the perfect way to say sorry to you?

Yes, but I told you guys what happened on Thursday, and it's Cyril with his big heart, and he showed his big heart also today, the way he came on. So he loves this club, he wants to give everything to get results, and that he showed not only with the assist, but also when the ball went out to do a fast throw and keep the tempo going on higher than it was first half. What I wanted also, what I demanded also after our first half, and being important in that way. So the striker is not only scoring the goals, he's also giving assists and working hard, and that's what he's been doing. So a little bit of pity that at the end he didn't get a penalty. I didn't see the action, so I cannot say if it was correct or not. That would have been an extra reward for him.

How did you feel about the performance overall, especially in the first half?

That we can do better, that there were good things, there were moments that it was too slow, too sloppy. We started today with seven players who are new this season here at Rangers. We're now almost end of October. Some are not even two months in the building. So step by step we try to integrate them in the squads, and like this to get them used to their teammates, to the club, to the expectations on and off the field. So that's a work in progress. And the second half was for me much better, with more urgency, more quality also on the ball, and a higher tempo and better chances.

Tavernier and Dessers were on the bench – is that just rotation?

Yes, of course, because we play every three days. There's not one team in the world that have our schedule and play with one player all the games. It can be maybe a centre-back or a goalkeeper, but the rest of the pitch, it's impossible with the schedule you have now this season. And you can have maybe teams that did until now or next month, but these players will have problems in one or two months, so we need to take care of that also. 

Did you take care of John Souttar?

No, John was really... Because he couldn't [play] today. So medical staff and performance staff were really clear about that, that if we put him on the pitch it was a big risk for an injury. So that's why I didn't do it.

Will he be OK for Wednesday? 

That I will see in the next few days.

It's a huge match on Wednesday for this club, obviously Aberdeen have had a great start, what would you make of them so far?

They made an exceptional start, if you see the amount of points they have. So it's going to be a big challenge, I'm looking forward to that. It's the next challenge for this new squad also, to play there for a lot of players for the first time. I know the atmosphere from last season, so it's a good place to go. We had a really good night there last season and I want to repeat that.

Do you think they are title contenders this year? Do you think they are realistically somebody who can compete for the championship?

I think they did exceptionally well, if they keep this level all season then they will be in contention of that. But I'm focused on Rangers and raising our level month by month and making things better here with the squad. So I'm not busy with that, it's still how many? 29 games to go? Until the end of the season, so it's still a long way to go.

How's Tom Lawrence? Will he be available for Wednesday?

I don't know if he is, I don't know, to be honest.

Rangers looked more comfortable defensively when Kasanwirjo moved to centre-half…

I'm making changes for a reason. One moment, so I wanted to get some stability in the way that St Mirren was playing, and he did a good job in that way, so we will see for the future in that way. He was playing also a good job on the right full-back, although he could play more offensive in the first half, second half was much better in that way. That's why we brought him in also, because he's still young, he's only 22, with a lot of potential, and he can play all over the defence, he played a really good game in Malmo in the left full-back in a certain role. It's not the same role that Jefte has, for example. So we're really pleased how he came into the building, how he's in the squad, how he's available also in different positions, and you need players like that. So I can praise him also after this game. 

Philippe, how impressed are you with Nico since he came back into the squad, two man-of-match performances? 

I know Nico already a long, long time, when he was a young boy coming to the youth ranks of Standard. I know him from before, when he was playing in the youth of Sandara. So it's not a surprise for me, it's about getting him to this level and to raise the level still. He's been really unlucky in that way. When I came in, in the beginning, he played, I don't know, one, two games, three games, and then he got a really, really bad injury and it was a long time out. He got an injury this season also that was a while out, and then you need some time to get back in rhythm and to grow to your best level. But I know he's a fighter with good feet and with the right mentality that suits this club. So, yeah, I'm happy to see now the Nico that I expected already nine months ago. But, yeah, that's part of football with injuries, that you lose some time.

How satisfied are you that your messages are getting over, they're being adopted and the team is able to translate what we do on the training pitch?

Yeah, if that's not the case, then you have a big problem. If they don't understand what you mean. But we're really busy and that's the challenge also with playing every three days. You don't have many training moments, or almost none. Like this week, tomorrow not, because it's recovery. On Tuesday, it's more tactical, but you cannot let them run too much because you need some freshness for Wednesday. So it's challenging in that way that you need to do a lot of things with video, individual, collective. But also the story with players who don't speak the language yet and all those things. But I'm pleased if you see seven players who started today who are new, and everybody will say after the game, there is potential there for the future of the club and some do already really good performances. So we need to continue on that way.