Antonio Colak on being Rangers 'main man' and climbing scoring charts

Here is everything he had to say.

How pleasing was it to get back to winning ways and play a big part personally at the weekend?

Yeah, it was very important, especially after the disappointing game the week before, and I think we set the tone directly in the first half. This was really important for me personally to play 90 minutes in the league after a period where I didn't do it. It was a really good feeling, personally to show confidence and everything but also team-wise, I think we showed really good things on the pitch.

The manager was full of praise for you after the game. How nice was that to hear?

Yeah. It's always good if the coach or the gaffer is pleased with your performance, I try, of course, to fit in the role with what he wants and what he expects of me personally and then also to bring in my own ideas, my own qualities whenever I'm on the pitch and to be dangerous. As you saw, I assist this game, next game maybe I will score. So it's all about the team and that we won this game.

What have you and the coaching staff been working on in the last few weeks?

Yeah, he wants us to have these relationships on the pitch, especially the strikers up front to be close together and to have good combinations. I think with this type of play, and if we have everybody on full speed, we can create a lot of damage to the opponents and create a lot of chances. I think you saw how Raz, Fashion and myself, how dangerous we get and how many chances we can create. This is what the gaffer wants for me. To be flexible to not stick only to one position, to be more connected to the game and you saw that I can do anything that he wants from me.

Do you hope to get a good run in the team now?

Yeah, of course. When you're injured, it's difficult to get back. The boys also had a good run and played really well. I was working with the coaches and working for myself to get back into the team because you have to deserve this shirt to be on the pitch every minute you get, whether it‘s 10 or 90 minutes. Of course, I always want to start the game being the main man up front. It was very important for me to be back but I know how hard it is to get back on the pitch in the first 11.

Do you hope your performance at the weekend will lead to more game time?

Yes, of course. This is what the gaffer always expects from every player. He wants them to deserve the shirt and to give everything on the pitch and bring out in every game and every training session the best performance and the best version of yourself. This is also what I demand from myself. I want to be out there to play and get those minutes on the pitch.

Are you confident you can push back up the goalscoring charts?

Of course, I’m really confident about that. I know how fast it can go. As you know, there was a period where I was out a little bit then you have to fight back and I think through this you learn a lot of things for yourself and also working-wise. Now with the new staff and with the team, how we want to play and how things can be getting better. I think with my quality I bring then individually I can again go back on this scoring track and score a lot of goals.

How is the team’s confidence?

After a win, it's more positive. We know what we have to work hard for because it's not enough only to have a good first half. We have to perform for 90 minutes. We want to win every game, every half so this is what the gaffer also demands from us. We are positive, but we know what we have to do better. Now we have three really important games until the national team break and we want to win them all. So to go into a small break, where can we where we can work on things and then finish off the season better.

Can playing closer together bring out the best in your game?

I think so because I did this also before, it's not like it's something new for me. Now, with new expectations, new ideas and how the gaffer wants to play, we have to adapt. Football is always like this, you have to adapt. It's not only with new people coming, it's with every game and every situation in the game. I want to be the best version of myself or the best Colak on the pitch. I want to perform on the best level I can so this means what I can do outside of scoring and assisting, what I can do running-wise and tactical-wise to make it easy for everyone on the pitch.

What did you learn about yourself when you were out of the team?

It's not the first time I was in a situation like this, but you always have to be patient to work hard. You have to show in every moment in training how much you want to get back and how much you want to earn these minutes. I think the biggest difference is that I'm now in the shirt of Rangers and this is more demanding with bigger expectations and bigger pressure. It was a thing that was new for me in that case and this is also what brings me on to get back faster. I wanted to be back on the pitch as fast as possible. Sometimes you have to be patient and sometimes you have to push more but the most important thing is that I am now back fit and good to go.

The coach said he would like to see you and Morelos playing together, is that something you’ve worked on in training?

This discussion we’ve had already I think in every press conference. We train and work hard a lot and the gaffer will decide when and how. It's not my decision.