Cifuentes ‘very calm’ after defeat leaves QPR bottom

By

Marti Cifuentes insisted he remains “very calm” despite QPR sinking to the bottom of the Championship – and he defended Morgan Fox, whose errors led to Portsmouth’s goals in a dire 2-1 defeat at Loftus Road.

The result continued Rangers’ awful start to the season, leaving them with just one league win after 10 matches.


“I spoke with the players and we have two ways to face this tough situation,” said Cifuentes.

“Either we accept where we are, work harder and accept criticism – because that’s the nature of football – and accept that we need to get better, or we just start to point fingers and then it gets more difficult.

“I’m very calm about how the guys are working and the commitment. I’m aware though that we need to improve.

“I have full confidence in those guys and I do believe that we can turn the situation. It is very early to just say we will not be good enough.

“I stay calm. I’ve coached in five different countries, I’ve been doing this job for almost 20 years and I’ve been in tougher situations.

“We need to improve very quickly but I believe it will get better.”

It was a terrible day for defender Fox, who gave the ball away in the build-up to Freddie Potts equalising after Karamoko Dembele’s opener.

And Fox gave away a second-half penalty by hacking down Callum Lang, who tucked away the resulting spot-kick.

But Cifuentes said: “I trust Fox. I trust him a lot. He was very important for us last season, a brilliant professional.

“Today he will not be happy and I am not a guy who will come in here pointing. I can make better decisions. I take responsibility.

“He is a fantastic professional and I am sure that he will show it in the next games.”