QPR Manager Cifuentes Expresses “100% Confidence” in Team’s Turnaround

Following Queens Park Rangers’ 4-1 home loss to Middlesbrough, manager Marti Cifuentes has urged supporters to remain steadfast with the club, stating his “100% confident” belief in his ability to reverse the team’s challenging start to the season. QPR, known as “The Hoops,” secured their sole Championship victory of the current season in August, and with 10 points, they have accumulated more points than only bottom-placed Portsmouth. Cifuentes assumed the role of head coach, succeeding Gareth Ainsworth, slightly over a year ago, and successfully guided the west London club away from relegation during the previous season. However, since their victory against Luton Town on August 29, his team has only managed to collect five points, placing them four points adrift of 21st-placed Preston North End. When questioned post-match regarding his suitability to improve the club’s inconsistent performance, Cifuentes responded: “I’m always confident, 100% confident.” He further commented: “I think that I’ve been in situations like this in my career and I always succeed so if someone expected that this would be an easy season, I think it was wrong.” Goals scored by Riley McGree, Tommy Conway, and substitutes Emmanuel Latte Lath and Dan Barlaser for Middlesbrough resulted in QPR’s fourth home league defeat of the current season. “The Hoops” had previously drawn their last three matches, including commendable 0-0 outcomes against promotion-contending Burnley and Sunderland; however, the recent defeat at Loftus Road was met with audible boos at the final whistle. “Hopefully they see a team that is trying their best,” Cifuentes stated. “Unfortunately so far it has not been enough, so I think it is fair that they are not happy in this moment.” He continued: “No-one is [happy]. I’m not a happy manager, the players are not happy to get the results that we are getting at the moment.” “But the only solution is to stay together. Because that was, I think, the main key of our success last season in a very difficult situation.” He concluded: “And this season will probably be the same in a sense that we need everyone, so hopefully we can start to get the results that we want and pick up the points that we need.” “The R’s” are currently without several key players, including their top scorer Michael Frey and defenders Kenneth Paal and Jake Clarke-Salter. Additionally, Ilias Chair is scheduled for tests following an injury sustained in the first half against Middlesbrough, which necessitated his substitution at half-time. Cifuentes commented that he had not encountered an injury situation of this magnitude previously in his coaching career. He elaborated: “The reality is we have a lot of injuries, unfortunately, and this is punishing us a lot because we are missing important players.” He added: “No doubt all teams in the league when they have an injury crisis we have, of eight or nine players off, will suffer.” QPR’s next fixture is scheduled against Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday, commencing at 15:00 GMT.