What are your emotions today, how are you and the squad feeling?
Of course, it’s a good feeling to come back from Germany with a win. I think we’re all very proud of the performances we had yesterday.
It was good but at the end of the day, today is a new day and another game is waiting on Sunday which will need all the focus we have.
The emotions are still really good but we’re fully focused on preparing the team for Sunday.
Where does this result sit in the history books of the football club?
I don’t know exactly, I don’t have all the results in my mind of the history of this club but it’s definitely, for me and also for the players, a very good and historic win. If you see all the reactions we are getting, it means you put in a really good performance.
On the other hand, we know it’s only halfway but we’re really happy with the result. We have one game to be played at a full Ibrox with a full backing from the fans so hopefully, we can make sure that this win we had yesterday can also mean we are going to the next round because that’s the main o objective we have in this tie.
Ryan Kent was likened to Franck Ribery by Owen Hargreaves after his performance, can you see the similarities?
We know the qualities of Ryan. I can see the comparison because they both play the same way they’re not very big, they move very lightly and they can beat players in the one-v-one’s so I’m really happy for Ryan, the performances he’s putting in and the danger he has when we’re attacking.
Also yesterday, I think his defensive work was also impressive and I think he’s becoming a better player every game so hopefully we can improve his performances and his development. He’s definitely one of the players who is stepping up his game in recent weeks.
Fashion Sakala, Kemar Roofe and Jon McLaughlin were not in the squad last night, will they be available on Sunday?
We brought the squad to Germany with the players who were available. We couldn’t bring them with us but we will see today and hopefully they can be involved in the squad on Sunday.
Last night showed how vital VAR is?
I’m really pro VAR, it will help the officials to get a good game. If you saw the two decisions yesterday, they were both vital moments and changing points in the game. You can imagine if VAR wasn’t there we probably wouldn’t get the penalty and the fourth goal would be denied. It shows at critical moments in games, especially deciding moments, when you have VAR you can make it easier for the refs and better for both teams.
Could we see a back three more regularly?
This is the second time we did it, I think away we put John Lundstram in the defence [against Hibs] to use a five-man defence. It’s a system I’ve used before but yesterday we had to do it because of the numbers Dortmund out forward and we just wanted to have more bodies in the back. It’s still a system that we can improve on in detail but it’s definitely one of the systems we can use if needed in games we’re going to play this season.
How big a job is it to re-focus the players for Sunday?
I think it’s easy because we are changing our focus to our domestic league. We had good results in the last games we played and we all know the importance of this game.
The players are in a good moment but they’re really focused. I’ve said before we were really happy with the performances but directly after the game we also started our recovery for Sunday and today as well. Tomorrow we will have a final session to prepare the team for the game and travel to Dundee.
It’s good, we’ve had good performances but now we have to switch our focus to the league and we know it’s going to be a tough game on Sunday but we need the points so we have to be up for the challenge. When I seen the players and their behaviour after the game, I think we will be.
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What do you expect from Dundee United?
It’s a team at a ground that can be very difficult. The first game we played there this season we lost and they gave us a tough challenge the last time we met them at Ibrox. We know it’s going to be difficult, we need to make sure we keep putting the effort and energy into games that we’ve done lately and then I think we have a big chance of getting a result.
We have to work hard and be strong as a unit so I’m really confident we can extend our form on Sunday as well.
Are you going to have to manage Ryan Jack’s game time given the number of games in such a short period of time?
Yeah, especially with players coming back from long-term injuries and especially with Ryan, he’s done really well in the games he’s played but he’s also had issues with his injuries. I’m happy for himself but also me as a coach to have him back in the squad.
If you see his performances in the games in the last few weeks, he’s been really good and strong and his central partnership with John [Lundstram] is really important for the balance in the team so I’m really happy with their performances.
They’re part of the team and in the last games, we’ve played really good football with a really good balance and recognise the moments in games, what’s needed. If we need to high press or stay as a block so I’m really happy, at the moment, with where the team is.
For me, as a manager, it’s really important to keep the momentum and keep them working hard. To keep this momentum you still have to work hard and to make sure you are on this level.
There’s no time for slip-ups, we have to be focused and I think, at the moment, we really are.
You brought Alfredo Morelos off last night, was he injured or is he fit for Sunday?
No, he was not injured, he was just exhausted and tired because of the performance he put in, not only with the ball but his defensive responsibilities.
He did really well with the others so I don’t think he will be a doubt for Sunday, I think he will be fit.
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