Queens Park Rangers head coach Marti Cifuentes has affirmed Taylor Richards’ inclusion in his future plans, despite the midfielder’s limited playing time under Gareth Ainsworth. Initially on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion with an obligation to buy, Richards secured a permanent move to QPR after making just one start during his loan spell, accumulating 253 minutes in the Championship.
Under Ainsworth this season, Richards had minimal opportunities, featuring in two matches in August, with a solitary start in the EFL Cup against Norwich City. Despite seeming on the verge of departure, Cifuentes granted him playing time in the recent 1-1 draw with Rotherham United.
Addressing Richards’ potential role this season in a pre-match press conference, Cifuentes praised the midfielder’s recent training performances:
“This week Taylor Richards has been really, really good in training. We know about his quality. He is a player who has the capacity to change a game, as other players we have do, and it’s my job to get the best out of them.”
Cifuentes emphasized not dwelling on the past and highlighted Richards’ current strengths:
“I’m not looking back at what happened before. What I see is a player that has the desire and has extreme quality on the ball. He is also taking a step to improve out of possession and his capacity to counter-press and work for the team.”
Recognizing Richards’ dribbling and passing skills, Cifuentes expressed optimism about unlocking the midfielder’s full potential:
“We know that when he has the ball he has the dribbling capacity and extreme passing skills, I would say. If we can get the best of him, then he is definitely a player that can make a difference in a Championship game.”
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