Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst spoke to the media ahead of Wednesday night's Premiership clash with Hearts.

The under-pressure boss remained stoic in the face of mounting speculation over his future, with the Ibrox side out of Europe and trailing Premiership leaders Celtic by seven points.

Here's every word from Van Bronckhorst's Tuesday press conference.

On recruitment

“I think we have been on this topic for a couple of months now. If you look at the recruitment we’ve had you’ll see we brought some good players in, some experienced players.

“We have had some talents come in - Colak has done really well as top goalscorer in the league - so that, for me, has been a very good signing.

“Tom Lawrence was a great signing, with the way he started. Of course, he’s injured now.

“We have some young players who have come in, Malik has had to step up from the level he was used to in Bayern Munich B team. And he has done well as well.

“Ridvan came in and needed some time to get in, but we can all see the quality he brings. Now he has an injury as well.

“Rabbi Matondo has been in and out of the team but I think overall our recruitment is fine.”

Where do you get perspective?

“Read the papers. Read the papers and see what is happening in the world. For me that is always been the case.

“I love my job and love being a coach. I love being here at the club. As I have said before, it’s not tough for me - it is not at all tough. 

“Yes, it is difficult but it’s not tough.

“Other people around the world have it tougher than me right now. So I always put things into perspective when I look at my family.

“Some people have very tough moments in the world with the cost of living and everything else. It doesn’t mean I won’t give 100 percent for the job, because I know it’s a difficult moment for all of us.

“We have to keep going and like any other manager in the world, if you don’t win games then it’s difficult. Look around, how many are without a job this season alone?

“I just keep going and try to work hard to reverse things.”  

In response to Brian Laudrup...

“I have given up? I think that’s very easy and stupid thing to say from Brian.

“I know I get a lot of questions about my body language but I don’t think it’s anything about body language.

“It’s about what you bring to the players inside. I get many questions about how I should be different on the sidelines but I am me, I am me. 

“I am not anyone else and the last thing we all need is people putting the pressure even higher by suggesting things which aren’t true. So I totally disagree with him.”

Is criticism from ex-Rangers players disappointing?

“No, that is their opinion. They get paid to give their opinions in the papers or on TV. They are paid to give their opinion so I don’t mind those opinions.

"We are all here and have our own opinion and speak about it. It’s their opinion and I cannot change that.

“It’s just nice to see the comparison with last season when everything was going well! They were, like, ‘everything is going fine, you’re doing well,’ and now it’s ‘everything is going wrong, you’re doing wrong.’

“That’s it. That’s why they get paid.”

Would it have helped to clear the air with the board? 

‘I have the support of the board. I didn’t have any conversations about my future, that’s different.

"I feel supported by the board. They say we have to keep going, we are in a tough moment, but we have every trust in you. 

"So I feel very supported by the board. I know I have to perform, that’s different. But I have the backing of my board."

They've told you that since St Johnstone? 

"I speak with Ross and he is a member of the board. He speaks to all the people, so for him we are in the same position.

"We are representing this club. We want to be successful at this club and that support I feel."

Would you rather a public vote of confidence to stop speculation?

"I am the only one in front of you guys…too often in my opinion. 

"You are the manager, the face of the club and you should speak the most times with the press. For me the most important thing is the trust I feel inside this club, instead of the people talking about it in the papers."

You know Glasgow is a basketcase? Advocaat won 5/6 then lost it in season three...

"Both way, yes, both ways. The passion here is unbelievable. 

"When you feel the passion after winning games everything is fine and you are like, ‘I want this every week.’ But you are also aware of how quickly it can change. 

"Everything in August was really fine and then the tough games in the Champions League began and the performances in the league as well.  Especially the last two weeks when we dropped five points. 

"The pressure is on and you know that, so you enjoy the moments when you have success. And when it’s tough you have to show your character and keep going.

"Those are the challenges I feel and, maybe not through my body language, but with my players and my meetings the passion is still there and always will be."

Was reaching the Champions League a mixed blessing?

"I told you already. I was the first one after the game against PSV to say, ‘Guys we have to push for Champions League, we want the Champions League, but once we reach it then it’s going to be tough.'"

If you went into Europa you might be better off now? 

"It’s not in my nature to not want to win. My nature is to win every game and you see the desire we had after we lost 2-0 against USG, how we played at home. 

"The desire to reach the Champions League, and it was the same against PSV. Once you are in the Champions League we reached the strongest opponent from every pot."

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