‘He was exceptional’  – QPR boss Cifuentes hails Michael Frey performance in Luton win

Marti Cifuentes was delighted with the contribution of striker Michael Frey as QPR beat Luton 2-1 to earn their first Championship win of the season.

Frey set up Nicolas Madsen for Rangers’ equaliser at Kenilworth Road before volleying home the winner just three minutes later.

The Swiss forward scored just once in the second part of last season after arriving in west London in January, but has already found the net three times at the start of the current campaign.

“Michy was exceptional,” said Cifuentes. “I’m very happy for him. He’s working really hard.

“He came in a difficult moment to the league. It’s not easy for any player to come in the middle of season, especially in his circumstances that he came from Belgium.

“He was getting the pace of the league but got an injury and that was the end of the season for him. He came back very strong.

“Footballers as well are human beings. To change country, city and play in a different way with a new manager and new teammates, it takes time to adjust. Sometimes it takes 6 months.

“But to judge players on one or two appearances is a mistake. I learned especially to be very quiet and calm until there is time for them and I think Michy is showing, as Nico [Madsen] will, as Kady [Dembele] will, and the [new] players that haven’t played in England.”

QPR had fallen behind against Luton courtesy of a Jimmy Dunne own goal in the first half.

The visitors were rocked after falling behind and only seemed to recover once Madsen had pulled them level.

“We spoke at half-time that we had to make some adjustments,’ Cifuentes revealed.

“We needed more energy. We had a fresh legs compared to Tuesday [against Luton in the EFL Cup].

“It was about adjusting because against teams that press so high with man to man it is about making a combination to make sure you get 1 v1 and that was the case in the [equalising] goal.”

PICTURE: PA