QPR Manager Cifuentes Supports Celar Following Missed Penalty

Marti Cifuentes, the manager of QPR, has offered his support to striker Zan Celar, asserting that only players with the courage to attempt a penalty can fail to convert one. Celar’s shot from the spot went wide during Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Stoke City. This incident means the Slovenian international is still seeking his inaugural goal for the club since his transfer to Loftus Road from Swiss side Lugano in the summer. QPR currently sits at the bottom of the league standings with 11 points. The team is scheduled to travel to face 21st-placed Cardiff City on Wednesday, aiming to secure their first league victory since August. Cifuentes stated that he maintains confidence in Celar to score from the penalty spot the next time his team is awarded one. Speaking to BBC Radio London, he remarked, “What I take from the penalty situation is only the ones who have the guts to take the penalty can miss it.” He further elaborated, “His penalty record is fantastic, the last time he missed a penalty [before Saturday] was almost three years ago.” Cifuentes also added, “No-one asked me why he took a penalty in the [Carabao] Cup penalty shootout against Luton and he scored, as he does very often on the training ground, as he does in his career with around 80%, or even more, scoring goals from penalties.” He concluded by saying, “The reality is that he missed, we’re going to try make sure that he can score the next one.”