QPR boss warns players not to stop ‘paddling’
Queens Park Rangers (QPR) manager Marti Cifuentes has employed a metaphor to convey the importance of continuous effort to his players, likening their progress to rowing a boat. Despite securing victories in their last three Championship matches, QPR finds themselves in the bottom three. Cifuentes, acknowledging the team’s recent achievements, emphasized the need for sustained effort, warning that just like in rowing, stopping “paddling” could lead to trouble.
While pleased with the recent string of wins, Cifuentes remains pragmatic about the unpredictable nature of football. He believes in the team’s potential and sees the current phase as part of building a strong foundation, attributing ease to the presence of talented players. QPR is set to face Plymouth Argyle, an opportunity to climb out of the relegation zone.
“Like rowing, if you stop paddling you will be in trouble,” Cifuentes told BBC Radio London.
“We are happy about the three wins in a row – it’s a big achievement, but we know football.
“I know that we are going to lose to some games, but I have the feeling that we are building something strong.”I believe there are good players, and when you have good players everything is easier.”
Plymouth currently holds the 18th position, just three points ahead of QPR. To improve their standing, QPR would need a considerable victory margin, but Cifuentes focuses more on performance than the league table. He remains committed to enhancing the team’s capabilities, stating that irrespective of the position in the table, the primary goal is continuous improvement.
Cifuentes, who took over from Gareth Ainsworth in October, acknowledges the team’s progress since his arrival. The recent 2-0 win against Hull City marked the 11th point QPR has earned under his management. Cifuentes acknowledges relative improvement but maintains a realistic outlook, expressing a desire for further progress. He emphasizes that consistent improvement is the goal, recognizing that there will be challenges along the way.
Reflecting on the international break, Cifuentes highlights the valuable time spent working with the squad. The focus has been on refining pressing strategies, with the team showing improvement in this aspect. Cifuentes sees this as a significant element of their game and emphasizes its importance in building momentum.
“I would like to have 18 points instead of 11 so far,” said Cifuentes. “It’s relative, but we have been better and better since Rotherham to Hull.
“There is clear improvement, but we cant expect to be better every game, because sometimes the opponent will be better, but we are building momentum.
“During the international break we spent quite useful time to work with the squad, and the time between two Saturday games, it was good to working on pressing high.
“The team is pressing better and this is what I want to be a big part of our game.”
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