Stephan insists QPR have ‘real potential’ despite poor end to season
Julien Stephan insisted the future can be brighter for QPR despite a miserable end to an arguably disappointing season.
Rangers ended an injury-hit campaign with a 3-0 defeat at Ipswich – their fourth consecutive loss – but the head coach claimed that the club is making good progress.
“For the club it’s really important now to think about the future, because there is real potential in this club,” he said.
“Good project, top fans, good management, top CEO, top owners, good mentality in the dressing room. We have some good foundations.
“But if we want to have some success in the long term, we have to build on that, and one of the main things next season will be to have players available on the pitch more times – that will be really important.
“We will continue to develop some young players as well, because that’s part of the project.
“Let’s continue on that, but of course we need as well some experienced players, mature players, because it’s a long journey.”
Rangers finished 15th in the Championship table – the same as last season.
They ended with two points more than last term but the more significant difference was that there was never any real threat of relegation this time around.
“I think the players showed some improvement to last season,” said Stephan.
“We stayed in the league earlier this season, but it doesn’t mean it’s enough if we want to continue to be ambitious.
“Don’t consider that we’re happy just to be better than last season. No. It’s not my mentality and it’s not the mentality in the club.
“Continue to build and take good decisions.”
BiroBiro 
03/05/2026 @ 11:00 am
Honestly, you have to give Stephan huge credit for what he does & that is, talking drivel every time he opens his mouth.
He came to us & part of it was to bring youth talent through. He hasn’t done that much at all, even when we were struggling with lots of injuries, but then a few weeks ago, he cried out for more experienced players to be brought in, so he’s given up on youth. Now he goes back to stating he’s still going to be bringing them through, even though he hasn’t done it much. Suddenly a rumour comes out about a french team showing interest in him, so I say, give him away for free & let’s get an experienced Championship manager in for once, because that’s well overdue now.
The ‘real potential’ is true because all players have some kind of potential for sure, but we won’t improve anyone under this clown. We’ve lost more games this season with that potential, than we did last season & let’s remember that we weren’t just in the relegation zone, we were adrift at the bottom for several games. This season saw lots of players come in with the manager, but he hasn’t shown anything but a failure to understand how to change games or identify a keeper properly. last but 1 game saw Nardi come back in from permanent holiday, to then be dropped yet again for the very next game. These players should be ashamed of how they’ve performed for most of this season, or the lack of doing it, but the axe falls on the manager because he could have changed players, tactics etc… but simply carried on talking drivel after every loss or run of bad form.