Cifuentes refuses to blame injury woe for QPR’s disappointing results
Rangers were without eight first-team players in Tuesday night’s 4-1 defeat to Middlesboro, a situation that was made worse by Ilias Chair being forced off at half-time after suffering a blow to his knee.
Cifuentes is hopeful that he will have a couple of players back for Saturday’s game against Leeds, but his side are now on a 11-game run without a win following the loss to Boro.
“The reality is we have a lot of injuries unfortunately and that is punishing us a lot because we are missing a lot of important players,” said the QPR boss. “But my job is to work with the guys that are available and get the best out of them.
“No doubt that all teams in the league when they have an injury crisis like we do at the moment where we have eight or nine players out will suffer, but that is the reality of where we are.
“We need to make sure we make the best of it. Once again Kieran Morgan gave a good performance, and it is the positive thing of this situation that some players can step up and we need to make sure we compete with the players that are available because everybody needs to prove that they are good enough for this division.”
Rangers’ winless run has left them second-bottom of the Championship table and four points from safety.
Some supporters voiced their frustration at the team’s recent struggles following the full-time whistle against Middlesborough.
“It’s fair when we don’t win games,” said Cifuentes when asked about the reaction.
“I said from day one that the problem will be if the fans are not disappointed to lose games.
“Hopefully they see a team that is trying it’s best and is honest and honest in the way we are approaching the games.
“Unfortunately so far it’s not been enough, so it’s fair that they are not happy at the moment. No one is. I’m not a happy manager and the players are not happy but the only solution is to stay together.
“That was the main key of our success last season in a difficult situation and this season will probably be the same In that we need everyone.
“So hopefully we can start to get the results that we want and get the points that we need and then the mood will change. I know in football this can change quickly.”