Jose Mourinho insisted QPR can still beat the drop despite a 1-0 defeat against his Chelsea side.
Cesc Fabregas scored late winner in a tense game at Loftus Road – a result that leaves Rangers still stuck in the relegation zone, two points from safety.
However, Blues boss Mourinho, who described the match as a “typical game for 0-0”, said: “I feel sorry, but they [QPR] still have a chance.
“They are playing well, good spirit, let’s see if we can be back next season to Loftus Road in the Premier League.”
He refused to condemn the QPR supporters who threw missiles at his players after Fabregas’ goal.
He said: “If someone threw a pound, you put the pound in your pocket and go. If it’s chocolate, eat – no problem. Everybody needs a pound, I never threw a pound away.”
Mourinho also heaped praise on his QPR counterpart Chris Ramsey, whose side have five matches to save themselves from relegation, starting with a derby at home to West Ham on 25 April.
The Portuguese said: “He and myself, we learn with our matches, with our experiences, with what the game give us and what we have to give to the game.
“So I think today he did a fantastic job and he will learn with that fantastic job he did. He organised the team very, very well.
“He was fantastic against Aston Villa – he changed the game and he almost gets the three points, so I think he’s doing a good job.”
Ramsey, meanwhile, directed praise back at Mourinho and suggested that Chelsea’s lead at the top of the league is unassailable.
Ramsey said: “He’s the master. He’s a top football man and he knows really how to grind it out.
“To be fair to them, they kept playing the whole time. One chance, one proper chance, and they score it and that’s probably why they are going to win the league.”
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This post was last modified on 13/04/2015