Ianis Hagi makes Rangers title vow and eyes League Cup final berth

Here is everything he had to say.

How are you feeling?

I’m good. For me, every day I’m healthy I’m happy. It’s been a tough year but still in the process of getting back to where I was before. Just building up minutes, 20 minutes then 45 and hopefully more minutes as the games go on. Just being healthy throughout the week as well is my main focus and I’m happy.

Was it mentally challenging the year that you were out?

Definitely. I think this type of injury, it’s more mental than physical. Physically you’ll get there more or less but mentally you have a lot of ups and downs. It’s really important to have people that support you and are beside you so that you can get through the bad moments and come back stronger.

Where are you now in terms of fitness?

I played 20 minutes a couple of weeks ago and a couple of days ago I played 45 so I’m still building up. I played 45 but I didn’t feel the best physically. I think every week in training I feel stronger, sharper and just small details like shooting, crossing, passing. You feel like they’re coming back. It’s a process where you have to be patient. It’s hard for me to be patient because I’ve never been injured before so I had to understand that and accept that. I feel like I’m in a good place now and I’m just focusing on my present and future.

Was it a big lift when the club decided to give you a new contract?

It’s been a long process on that. It wasn’t something that just happened. It was there for a long time and then obviously after the injury happened, them still having the same belief in me made me happy. Obviously, afterwards with the coaching being changed you always ask questions where do you fit in and what position in squad. You always have questions but at the end of the day I’m happy with where I am, I’m happy that I’m here so it couldn’t have been better than this.

Do you have to temper the fact you want to play immediately?

That’s the most difficult thing, it’s that management. I hate that word right now. During the week I don’t have the same schedule as everyone so I have to manage myself in different trainings and different back-to-back days. I’m a guy who always tries to push 100 per cent in training and games but now I’m told I have to manage myself sometimes and it’s hard to accept that but it’s the process. I’ve understood this and I just have to go along with it.

How competitive is it within the squad with new players coming in?

In the past and also in the future this probably defines this football club. The competitiveness between players. I think it’s a healthy one. We have 60+ games a season and it’s not easy to play all those 60 games. Physically and mentally, it’s really tough. This football club was never built on 11 players. We understand that and we try to fight for every spot every single day. I think it’s a healthy one and probably the gaffer will always be pleased to have 20/25 really good players to pick from.

Is it tough mentally not to be playing?

You always try to play, especially me coming back from a long-term injury. You try to win that time that you lost back. It’s football and you have to accept it sometimes. You have to be realistic about where you are in terms of a physical point of view. It’s a process mentally you have to balance yourself and get the best out of every day.

Advice from your father throughout injury and now when getting yourself back into the team?

Well, probably the same as it was before my injury – try to get better. I couldn’t get better football-wise because I was injured but I tried to get better in different aspects outside of football. I tried to understand the game from a different angle. I tried to get an understanding of what a coach would look at, tactics and all that. Besides that, I’ve been learning a new language. It’s always helpful in football.

READ MORE: Michael Beale gives Tom Lawrence Rangers injury update - full Q+A

Two players signed into your area of the team with Raskin & Cantwell. What do you make of them?

I think they’re two really good players. Nico I knew a bit from Belgium and then from when we played against Standard at Ibrox. He’s a really good player plus Todd. I think the entire UK knows him as a talented young player. It’s all about competitiveness as you guys said. You try to fight for your spot. It’s a healthy one, you know?

Close to being first pick under Gio before injury. Had those discussions with new manager around the team?

Right now I’m just focussing on my fitness and trying to build up my minutes. At the end of the day, I’ve always tried to play every minute of every game. To push for a position to start in this team. It’s clear for everyone, every player wants to play. But like I said I have to be realistic and understand that I’ve been out of the competition for a year. That will never come overnight, even though I want it to. That’s my focus. That’s why I said I’m focused on my present and future because that’s everything that’s on my mind. The process is about winning. I know the demands here. We want to have trophies in the cabinet.

Big cup final ahead. Is that a big motivator for you?  

Yeah, those are the games that you wait for. That’s my day-to-day motivation in football – winning trophies. You want to be involved in these type of games and to help the team in every aspect. It’s a little bit early for me to play 90 minutes or 120, you never know, but I’m ready to, if the gaffer will think about me, I’m ready to go as much as he wants me to. 

Will you see a difference on the pitch based on the learning you did off the pitch in the last year? 

I think I understand more about my football right now. I’ve been trying to analyse how I fit and how I can use all of my qualities. Stuff that I have to work on too. Just the understanding of who I am as a player. I think I’m ahead of where I was a year ago when I got injured. Right now I just want to be out there and to show myself.  

Keep getting results but can’t bridge Celtic gap. Is there a frustration there and how is the group dealing with that? 

There’s still many games to play. Obviously, it’s been a season with many ups and downs for us. We have to be realistic, but I know the position we were in last January. We were six points ahead and everything went so well for us. We know how that ended up. Anything can happen in football. Right now, the focus, certainly since the gaffer came in, has been about finding ourselves as a team, our chemistry and to take things game by game and to try win every game. I think we’ve done that since the gaffer came, we just have to keep it going and we’ll see where that takes us at the end of the season. 

In terms of getting match sharpness back, is that possible this season or will it take longer?  

I haven’t been in this position before so I don’t really know what to say. I’m trying to get it as soon as possible. It might take a few games, it might take ten or 15. As you say, it might take me until summer onwards. I’m eager to get back as soon as possible. Believe me I’m doing all In my power to come back as good as I was and even better. That’s my focus. That’s why I said I’m focussed on my present and future because that’s everything that’s on my mind. The process is about winning. I know the demands here. We want to have trophies in the cabinet.