Is completion to where Rangers wants to be, winning domestic cups?

I think so. We were champions last year but we want to compete for every prize and competition we’re in. For the Scottish Cup this year, we want to be winning the cup, that’s our aim, that’s our goal and that’s what we want to achieve.

How do you strike a balance between rotating your squad to give players game time but not changing things too much so you disrupt the flow of your team for games like this?

I have a big squad, I think it’s the biggest squad I’ve had from when I joined the club with so many players available. We had a good transfer window with raising up our level, squad-wise.

For me, it’s just a case of keeping on going, keep playing the way we want to play although you will see changes tomorrow. Our way of playing will be the same and our intentions so that won’t change and it’s also good for me to give other players minutes.

Could you give us an injury update with regards to Leon Balogun, Ryan Jack and Filip Helander?

Filip is already training for weeks now, he has around 20 sessions with the team so I think we have him on a level where he can start games so he will start tomorrow as well. I’m really happy for Filip that he can leave his injury and the time he was off behind him.

Leon had a scan which was very positive so the injury isn’t bad so hopefully he can return soon to join the team in training and I think Ryan will be available for training this weekend. For him also his ankle is recovering well and should be involved in the game next week.

READ MORE: How do Rangers replace Leon Balogun and will John Souttar miss prove costly? - Joshua Barrie

Annan’s stadium holds 2,500, how surreal will it be going there before going to one of the biggest and most iconic stadiums in Europe?

It’s different than we are used to but also the circumstances we have to deal with but it’s still a pitch, still 11 against 11 and one ball so that’s no different. For me, it doesn’t matter if you play in a full stadium of 50,000 or 2,500 in a small stadium, in the end, we want to go to the next round and we have to be focused and respect the opponent we are facing and make sure we get a good performance.

Is Aaron Ramsey now fit to start?

Yes, he will start tomorrow. Aaron has been doing well, he’s had more team sessions in training. He also had some minutes against Hibs so he’s getting better and fresher and the rhythm is coming back so he will be starting as well tomorrow.

What’s your opinion on playing in a competition with a plastic pitch and does that stop you from selecting any players?

No, everyone in the squad hasn’t told me they don’t want to play on artificial grass so we know the surface we are playing on tomorrow. I think, this time of year, it’s maybe better to play on artificial grass than a really bad pitch due to circumstances weather-wise. I think we can play our normal game, of course, it’s different than grass but I think we should be ok.

Is this game a chance for youngsters to be introduced? 

We are travelling with a big squad. We want to use the players who didn’t play as much lately. We have some players coming back from injury but the youngsters will travel as well. Hopefully, there is room for them to feature in the game.  

With the league so close, has it heightened your focus on the officials and perhaps the introduction of VAR? 

I’m pro-VAR and I think it will make it easier for referees because you have an extra pair of eyes and can watch back important moments of the game. Hopefully, it will be next season. This season it’s not there. We have to accept that and accept every decision the referees are making so in that way it is the same for all the teams. There is no difference in stadiums or where you travel so we just have to deal with it. 

Ianis Hagi is likely to miss the start of next season? 

Well, it’s a cruciate ligament. I’ve had the injury as well and it’s between six and nine months so if you count it’s likely he will miss the start of the season. It’s not difficult maths to do. Hopefully, his recovery will go smoothly, that’s our main objective. If you’re out for between six and nine months you have to wait and see how the rehab is developing. But for me, that (the length of absence) is no surprise. 

Kevin Ciubotaru has also arrived. What will he bring? 

It’s the first I have heard that. I think he is for the academy. For me, in the first team, you want to get the biggest talents in Europe, if possible, to add to your academy and to make sure you keep developing not only the Scottish talent but also the big talents from abroad. We just brought Matheusz Zukowski from Poland for the first team who is also a young talent. For us, it’s an ongoing process. 

How important is it to avoid complacency against Annan? 

There won’t be complacency from our side. You have to respect the opponent. We are there to win the game and go to the next round but upsets are always there in cup competitions. When we play our level and if we play to the level of recent games we will win. That’s our obligation and that’s our aim.