QPR will simply ‘go again’ if they miss out, Onuoha insists
Nedum Onuoha has shrugged off suggestions that QPR’s big spending means their players will be under added pressure at Wembley.
There has been speculation about the possible fall-out should Rangers fail to win promotion in Saturday’s play-off final against Derby.
In March, the club posted a loss of £65m for the previous year, taking the total debt to £177m and prompting reports of potential financial problems should Rangers not make it back to the Premier League this year.
Chairman Tony Fernandes has remained adamant that the club will be well-placed to simply try again next season should they miss out this time around.
And R’s defender Onuoha said: “No-one wants to lose at Wembley in a play-off final. It would be disappointing but I don’t think it would be a disaster.
“It would be disappointing to lose, because everyone knows what the goals were at the start of the season and what we wanted to achieve, and now it’s come down to one game to try and achieve that objective.
“But, as for the club itself, if the worst comes to the worst then we’ll go again next season and try to get promoted.
“You have to be positive going into a situation like this. We’re trying to win, that’s our focus. If you think about anything else it can affect the way you approach the game.”
Nigeria-born Onouha, 27, celebrated the birth of his first child, daughter Amaia, in April and admits he will be thinking about his late mother on Saturday.
Dr Anthonia Onuoha passed away in 2012, having acted as her son’s agent and been ever-present at his matches until she fell seriously ill with cancer.
The loss had a profound impact on the player and appeared to affect his form during the early part of his QPR career.
“I think about her every day. She always wanted me to do well from a very young age which is probably why I’m in the situation I am now, playing professional football,” he explained.
“There were times she kicked me on when I was feeling down. She kept me going and loved to see me be successful.
“There were times I was doing really well and it brought such happiness to her, so it’s a shame she’s not here.
“But I’ve got my father and sister and other family who are here and will really enjoy the moment. I’m playing in something she would have loved.”
Onuoha moved to Manchester as a child in 1991 and played 20 times for England Under-21s during a long spell at Manchester City, who sold him to Rangers in January 2012.
Still a popular figure at the Etihad Stadium, he has received messages of support from his former team-mates.
Onouha revealed: “I had quite a few before the play-off semi-final – Micah Richards, Joleon Lescott, Joe Hart and lots of the backroom staff as well – and I’ll probably get some on Thursday or Friday.
“I was there a long time so got to know a lot of people. As a City fan, it was exciting to be there, but not playing was difficult.
“Now my aim is to be a Premier League player again with QPR. It’s a really big game coming, we know that.
“I was speaking to Niko Kranjcar, one of the most relaxed guys that I’ve ever met – you pretty much don’t know whether he’s alive or not – and he said to me that the feeling after the Wigan game was one of the best he’s had in his career.
“This is someone who has played for his national team, played at the highest level in the Champions League, and he said that was one of the best feelings he’s had.
“And that was the semi-final. It just shows what a big game this one is.”
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