How important is the League Cup?

It's one of the two cups in Scotland. It's silverware and a trophy we can win so for me it's a very important domestic cup competition.

Is that where Rangers is quite unique because in some countries this is a competition to take the foot off the gas?

The expectation has been here for years. The first club we won in 1998 was the League Cup so it's important to give everything in every competition we face. Of course, some competitions are stronger than others but we want to win the cup so that means tomorrow we need to be ready to beat Dundee tomorrow.

It's the third different competition in three days. How difficult is the schedule?

It's a demanding schedule with the World Cup and the games come really quick without any breaks in between. That is not about the different clubs you face or competitions, it's about keeping the squad fresh and showing you can have rotation where you can. That's what we are going to do tomorrow as well.

How many trophies do you have to win for a season to be defined as successful?

For me, I want to win every competition I'm in. It's not always that easy, especially in Europe. We reached a final last year. The level we need to step up to in the Champions League is really high and demanding which we all feel at the moment. But every cup competition it's expected that when you are a manger or player at Rangers you win every competition you are involved in. Certainly in Scotland. That's our priority. The league is our priority because it means you qualify for the Champions League directly and are champions of Scotland. It's important. I won a lot of cups with Feyenoord and also last year the Scottish Cup and in this competition in recent years we haven't won so we have to make sure we continue our hunger and desire for trophies. 

 How do you assess the performances so far?

It's different, I remember the first question I got before the Champions League about us having our swagger back. That was because of the game we played before with the 4-0 win over Hearts away and St Mirren. Football is about winning every game you play. You know it can be difficult when you go away and you are 2-0 up and then it's 2-1 and there's only one goal of a difference. Any team can make it difficult for you which is why it's important to keep your distance when you play. Tomorrow is a chance to play again. We play a lot of games but the semi-final is there for us if we win and be back in Hampden again.

John Lundstram said the confidence was low after the Liverpool game, do you feel like it's building up again?

For sure, we were very down after the game which is very normal. You have to be down but you must refocus to the next game because that's the most important one and you have to win the next game against Motherwell was very important to keep the winning spell in the league and now we have to switch back with only two days in between so it means you have to recover and there's almost no time to train but you have to be ready.

Some people say they struggle to understand the style of the team. What is the style that you are looking for?

We want to attack, that's for sure. Sometimes in games it goes easier than other games where a team is low in a defensive block and it's more difficult. It's not very difficult to see that. Then you have to make the right decision in smaller areas, that's why you need players who can create chances in these moments. That's what we are looking for and we have some players who are able to do that are not in the squad because of injuries so we have to change that a little bit to keep creating chances. The last games at home it was good. In the game against Motherwell when you have chances in the first four or five minutes you have to score them to make it easier for yourself. The main task tomorrow is to continue our attacking development and score goals.

Is James Tavernier fully fit?

Yes, he is. I have heard some stories but he is fine.

Is this a chance to bring in some other players who haven't seen as much game time?

It's a possibility. We need to rotate because we have lost a lot of players in the last few weeks to injury and we need to find a good balance in playing and the load for the players. The squad is smaller than we want because of the injuries we have. We need to be smart in certain positions to rotate as well. Although it's a small squad, I think we have players who can start games.

How many players will you likely bring in during the transfer window?

Well, it depends on the stages of the players. Some are a couple of months away. We need to see the squad when the window opens and see positions we need to strengthen up. For now, this is the squad we have until January so that's now my main focus.

Does the Champions League results put added pressure on the domestic games?

No, the pressure to win is always there. Look at last season, we did really well in Europe but we had to concentrate on the domestic league as well. This year is the same, it's a big difference in level we face. We want to compete and we want to reach those levels and the easiest thing for us is to in the Euorpa League because the competition is less than what we are facing now but that's not what you want as a top player or manager who wants to be the best.

How can you use last year's Scottish Cup success as motivation this time around?

The motivation is lifting the trophy. That's the only motivation we all need. You never match the moment you lift a trophy. It's the best moment you can have. I had many moments like this as a player and many moments as a manager. Those are the moments you work hard for all season, to be successful, to bring success to the club and lift up trophies. That's all the motivation we need.

Have you had a look at Dundee?

Yes, we have seen a lot of their games and have analysed them as we normally analyse opponents. I think we know well their strengths, which players we want to make sure are not in the game. It's a normal preparation. We need that to continue our development.

Away from have you found it more difficult to implement your style?

Not always. The last game it was, against Hearts it was much better. There we controlled the game more and were much sharper in going forward, especially from the back. It was the first game after the break and we were all fresh. There is also a difference physically and mentally. It's hard to go into your rhythm. We started well and after the break, we had that back. We tried to overload spaces and commit to areas where we create overloads and it was much better in the second half. Away games are always difficult. You have to prepare well and start well. We started well against Hearts, we started well against Hibs but with nine men it's always difficult. We almost won there. It's important we start well tomorrow at home. It's at home so it's easier to do than away but you must start on the front foot and when we are capable of doing that we always have positive results. 

Can Malik Tillman be a major player now after a difficult spell?

You always have those moments as a young player. I think he started really well, he had a moment when he wasn't at the levels we wanted but he's coming back. I can see a difference in Malik's play. It was a really good goal he scored but also defensively he's taking responsibility. That's part of the game he needs to develop but he's in a much better place than he was a couple of weeks ago and he's in a good place to continue his improvement.

Would you like to get the contracts of Morelos, Kent and others resolved one way or another in the coming weeks?

As a manager, yes. It's up to the players and club. Ross Wilson is busy talking and negotiating and that's the steps we go through.

Any update on Kemar Roofe or Alex Lowry?

Kemar is in the squad tomorrow, he's ready to make minutes and we will try and give him that tomorrow. Alex is playing today with the B team because it gives him more time and minutes on the pitch but he's close as well to be ready for playing.