Cifuentes keen for QPR to take ‘next step’
Marti Cifuentes wants QPR to take the “next step” after avoiding relegation in his first full season at the helm.
Cifuentes kept Rangers in the Championship last season and has managed to do so again despite an injury-plagued campaign.
But the Spaniard is emphasising the need for the club to move forward – ahead of planned end-of-season talks with chief executive Christian Nourry.
The squad is likely to be overhauled, with a number of players expected to leave – and several weak points having been obvious during the past year or so.
Cifuentes said: “I need to sit with Christian and decide what is the plan. What does he want? And what is the idea?
“Obviously I have my thoughts and my ideas on how we can improve.”
‘QPR has amazing potential’
Rangers have not sustained a serious promotion challenge since being relegated from the Premier League 10 years ago.
Financial restrictions have become progressively stronger during that time, but Cifuentes says he still believes the club can do better.
“QPR as a club has amazing potential. That was one of the reasons I wanted to come here,” he said.
“The fantastic training ground that we’ve got, the location (of Loftus Road), the history and also the identity and style of football that this club has played in the past, which fits very well into my idea, and I think there is a solid foundation to take bigger steps.
“What we have achieved this season is remarkable. It’s a big achievement, especially given how difficult it has been (with injuries), but I think the foundation for next season is good.
“It’s just about taking the right decisions. It’s always going to be difficult against teams with parachute payments coming down from the Premier League. We need to find the ‘edge’ to take this next step.
“The supporters as well; since I came here, amazing support, but I would like to give them something else and not just celebrate another season in the Championship.
“It’s not easy, but I think there is the potential to take the next step.”
Injury woes continue
The end-of-season review will include an assessment of Rangers’ incessant injuries, which Cifuentes has repeatedly hinted have not been purely down to bad luck.
The issue seemed to be summed up when he had to make a last-minute change to his side against Swansea after Jonathan Varane, who was named in the starting line-up, suffered an apparent thigh strain during the pre-match warm-up so was replaced in the team by Morgan Fox.
It continued a horrible trend of Rangers losing players to non-contact, muscular injuries.
An exasperated Cifuentes said: “In the warm-up Jonathan something feels something muscular. What else? What else?!”
Asked if the injuries were merely bad luck or an issue which needed to be addressed, Cifuentes said: “Generally in life I don’t believe in luck or bad luck.
“Obviously there is nothing you can do about Sam Field getting a tackle – that’s part of the game.
“Perhaps we need to review other areas. Definitely I think we are going to do that internally.
“It’s the first time in my career I’ve experienced something like this (so many injuries) and definitely, as in all areas, we need to improve.”
Meanwhile, Koki Saito, who suffered a dislocated shoulder during Friday’s win at Preston, will see a specialist in order to establish whether he must have surgery.
