Marti Cifuentes has his say on QPR debutants Celar and Varane

Marti Cifuentes has suggested his QPR side need to do more to get the best out of summer signing Zan Celar in the future.

Slovenian striker Celar struggled to have an impact on QPR’s 3-1 opening day defeat to West Brom, and was substituted after 70 minutes having had just 15 touches and no shots at goal.

Replacement Michael Frey did cause the Albion defence problems late on, but Cifuentes did not feel his new signing was solely to blame for a quiet afternoon.

“Usually players need some kind of adaptation,” said Cifuentes when asked about his new arrival from Swiss side FC Lugano.

“This can take just a few weeks or more than that. It is not easy for a player that has never played Championship to play against a team as aggressive as West Brom.

“We know about Zan’s qualities and they are mainly inside the box.

“He’s a player that can stretch the defence with good diagonal runs and movement behind the defenders but he needs partners and players that can fit him and in the minutes he was on the pitch he didn’t get those.”

Jonathan Varane, who signed for QPR earlier this week, came off the bench to make his debut in the second half.

The midfielder caught the eye with one particularly impressive crossfield pass but was unable to help Rangers find a way back into the game.

“He is a good player who will help us a lot when we want to regain the ball,” Cifuentes assessed.

“He’s aggressive, he can anticipate and reads [the game] very well.

“At the same time he has the quality to protect the ball under pressure and break lines. I’m sure he will be a very good addition for the midfield.”

The QPR boss dismissed the idea that the opening day defeat will change the club’s transfer plans for the remainder of the window as they look to make further additions.

“I’m pretty stubborn and my idea [about transfers] has not changed much over the past two months,” Cifuentes said.

“The club knows my idea and that’s where I’m standing.”

PICTURE: ROB AVIS