Here's every word the Rangers manager said to the media after the 2-1 defeat from Celtic at Ibrox today.

What’s your reaction to the game?

It’s a game we had to win and in the end if we don’t win it, it’s a big disappointment.

That’s a 12-point swing since January, how do you explain that?

You watch the games. We didn’t take our chances, had some decisions not in our favour and in the end when you draw and lose points you haven’t taken your chances. That’s why we have lost a lot of points unnecessarily. We’re now six points behind Celtic, those are the facts and we cannot change them.

What went wrong today?

The start couldn’t be any better, we were on the front foot and playing really well. The goals we gave away today were like gifts, that cannot happen in any match, not only an Old Firm. To give the first goal away like that is for me unthinkable. But it happened, the second goal as well, we didn’t defend as strongly as we could and that’s why we conceded two easy goals against us.

Did you press less in the second half?

I think we pressed high, we were one-v-one all over the pitch and better in the second half. In the transition moments Celtic are dangerous so we were taking a bit of a risk, but second half we were playing almost the whole game in their half to try and get the second goal, which eventually didn’t fall.

READ MORE: Every word James Tavernier said on Celtic loss, lack of clinical Rangers edge and Braga bounceback

What was your thoughts behind the subs?

I make my decision, that’s it. It’s easy to talk about subs. We wanted to get fresh legs on, put Sakala on the wing to get the crosses in and play with pressure up front. We created some chances, not really big ones but enough. I think we created enough chances to score an equaliser. If you lose the subs are bad, if you win the subs are good.

Did you lose the goals at bad times?

We were pushing for the second goal, they took their chance to go level which gives them confidence. I think the way we gave the goals away shouldn’t happen. It has happened too many times for us in the last couple of months and that has cost us some very important points.

How much did you miss Morelos?

It was a situation we had to handle, he wasn’t here, and I don’t want to find excuses. There are no excuses in football. I don’t want to find excuses, I just want to play as well as we can with the players we have available. That’s my job. We’re disappointed to not have Morelos, but he wasn’t here and that’s a fact.

Where does this leave you in the title race?

Losing makes it more difficult, it’s not over but today makes it more difficult to be champions. If you play your direct opponents in the title race and lose you always make it more difficult for yourself.

What was your full-time message to the players?

We have to keep going. The emotions in football are high and low, any football player will feel that. Today the emotion is disappointment with the result, but we have to keep going because there’s still a lot to play for, take this loss, recover and be there on Thursday against Braga. We have to prepare well for that game.

What did you make of the bottle incident?

It’s not what you want, you come out for the second half and want to go but have to wait for a couple of minutes. It’s never good that due to situations the game is delayed. But safety is first, I understand we have to wait and make sure the pitch is playable.

How do you rebuild momentum for April?

You feel disappointed about the result, but we have to stand up. A loss is always disappointing but we have to keep going. It’s almost the end of the season with a lot of games to be played, we’re still in a lot of competitions. We have to prepare. That’s the only thing we’re going to do.