Goalkeeper Josef Bursik spoke to the media ahead of Hibs' visit to Rangers in the Scottish Premiership. Here's everything he had to say...

Joe, how would you assess your first couple of months as a Hibs player?

"Yeah, not bad. We've been disappointed as a group with some of the results, as you can imagine. We've come close, there's been a couple of draws we should have won. 

"Two tough games against Celtic - I think anyone in the league would say that can put you on the back foot a bit. But no, I think personally, I've done all right. There are things I want to do better, and things I'm happy with. But on the whole, things are getting better and that's good for me."

How important was that win against St Johnstone? You, Marvin Ekpiteta and Warren O'Hora had a big embrace after the second goal.

"Yeah, for sure - I think there's some level of responsibility as a back three - two centre-backs and goalie, for keeping clean sheets and helping the team win in that way. 

"We haven't had that since those pre-season games and that little run of cup games. So it was a bit of a relief to get that clean sheet, get that win and get that feeling back. You miss that as a defender, so that was nice, and a good moment; you play football for little things like that, so that was nice. Hopefully we can build on that, get a bit more confidence, and keep going on."

Going to Ibrox and getting a win would be quite a statement - do you get the sense they're vulnerable?

"I think as a team, you've got to try your best not to look at the opposition for stature. I think you've got to look at them as a team based on how they're doing results-wise, because otherwise you just get caught up in it. 

"I know it's hard against bigger teams, but that gives you the best chance going into the game to do the best you can. We just want to win. I think that's the easiest way to look at it. It's going to be a good atmosphere. I haven’t been there, I don't think many of the new lads have, so I'm looking forward to it."

Would a win be just the tonic to push forward?

"Yeah. I think off the back of a win as well, a couple of good training weeks. Get a bit more rest and stuff so we can go in there fresh. I think a lot of the lads are excited, to be honest. I certainly am. It's something different if you haven't played there before. 

"We just want to get out there and build on [the St Johnstone win]. Two wins on the bounce and then we'd be unbeaten in three and push on from there. I’m looking forward to it."

If Celtic are the benchmark, what can you learn from those two games?

"I think in that one we were disappointed that we couldn't impose the way we want to play against them. There are lots of reasons that happens. They came out of the blocks fast in the home game and we conceded an early goal, like we do in the first game as well, and that knocks the wind out of your sails a bit.

"You want to get through that first 10-15 minutes, then stamp your authority in the game if you can. It was annoying that we came away from what we'd worked on, but I think it was a positive that we were disappointed that we couldn't do that off the back of those two games, because now you go into the games for the rest of the season thinking you don't want to do that again. 

"It gives you more clarity and understanding that you can go into any game, no matter the stadium, the fans, whatever, the feeling to do what you're told and what you've worked on doing."

How much chat have you had with Jack Butland?

"Not much, to be fair. I've spoken to him before I came up and then a couple of times since then, just little bits. We had a good relationship when I was at Stoke, I learnt a lot off him. It will be good to see him."

What was that relationship like when you were at Stoke? 

"It was good because I was young, I'd just joined Stoke. I was flirting on the edge of going on my first loan when I first joined. He was always a bit of an idol for me growing up, so it was cool to go straight in there with the first team at Stoke and train with him every day.


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"That was a big selling point, actually. It was a good relationship. I just learnt a lot off him, as you can imagine, in the Premier League. I was travelling to all the games and warming up at all the big stadiums and when you're 16, 17, that's invaluable, isn't it? I learnt a lot, I had a good relationship. It was nice, it will be good to see him."

What were some of the places that wowed you when you walked out at them?

"For me, it was going to the Bridge because I’m a Chelsea fan. Going to Stamford Bridge, that was big. To be honest, I'd gone from League 2 at AFC Wimbledon to straight into pre-season tour with the first team in the Swiss Alps - it was a different life. You go from there to there, it's different. Those stadiums are great. You then find yourself five, six, seven years down the line playing in stadiums that big. It's a nice reward for the hard work."

Have you ever played against Jack before?

"No - when he was at Crystal Palace, I was at Stoke, I was playing in the league and we played them in the cup, so I wasn't in the squad. I saw him then, but I've said to him we should have a round of golf in the next few weeks, that would be good. He's a bit better than me, I think."