‘I have a feeling we are building something strong’ – Cifuentes believes promising start at QPR can continue

Marti Cifuentes is positive the early progress he has made as QPR head coach can continue over the coming weeks and months.

The Spaniard has taken 11 points from his first six games in charge, breathing new life into Rangers’ hopes of avoiding relegation from the Championship this season.

Following Saturday’s 2-0 home win against Hull City, supporters at Loftus Road have now seen more victories in the past two weeks than they had witnessed in the 13 months beforehand.

QPR fans have come up with a chant to celebrate Cifuentes’ favourite Spanish delicacies, and many remained in the stands following the final whistle at the weekend to laud the 41-year-old and his team after their latest victory.

“I am enjoying that they are eating paella and drinking Estrella,” joked the QPR boss when asked about how the fans have taken to him.

“As the manager you want supporters to be happy but, hopefully not very often, we’re going to lose some games.

“I have a feeling that we are building something strong in the sense that we are going to keep that unity and that atmosphere because they can see how much we are working.

“The players, the staff….everybody is very committed to trying to get the best for QPR and as I’ve said from my first day here I want them to have fun when they come to the games.

“If they are having fun watching a team that is trying to show personality in its approach to the game, I am going to be very glad about it.

“Now we are building momentum, but this is like when you are in a boat and you are rowing.

“We need to create that trend. If you stop rowing then you get in trouble. Now is the moment we really push together to get as many points as we can.”

QPR can move out of the second-tier relegation zone if they beat Plymouth Argyle at Loftus Road on Wednesday night.

They will also need other results to go their way, but Cifuentes should be confident of extending Rangers’ winning run to four matches in a row against a Plymouth side that are yet to enjoy success on the road this term.

However, he did not feel that escaping the drop zone with plenty of games still to play this season would be a particularly significant achievement.

“I’m not looking at the table at this point of the season,” said Cifuentes. “For me it is about trying to perform better every day.

“It might be some kind of milestone just to get out of there because obviously it’s not the position where we want to be.