Cifuentes runs rule over new arrivals as QPR step up pre-season preparations with Spurs friendly
Marti Cifuentes is hoping all three of his summer additions can have a significant impact on QPR’s upcoming Championship campaign.
Experienced goalkeeper Paul Nardi has been signed alongside young defenders Liam Morrison and Hevertton Santos as Rangers look to build on a fine end to last season that saw them avoid relegation to League One.
The QPR boss admitted there is still work to do before the transfer window closes at the end of next month, but he is satisfied with the start to the club’s summer business.
“All the coaches want the squad ready from day one of pre-season but we know that is far from reality,” said Cifuentes.
“We have a good foundation from what we achieved last season. Our identity as a team has been clear since day one.
“The guys have done a good job in the off season, finding a good balance between resting after such a demanding season and preparing themselves to arrive in a good shape for pre-season.
“Now it is about adding the new pieces – new players and academy players that are training with us as well – making sure we have a good mix and then we can deliver as a team.
“With Liam we have seen he is a player that has the skills that we like in the build-up capacity and his capacity to break lines [with his passing]. Given he is only 21, he has great leadership skills and a great personality.
“Hevertton comes from a different context but from a very good academy at Sporting Lisbon. He has been playing in the second division and last season the first division in Portugal, achieving good experience and a good amount of games.
“He is an offensive full-back that can play as a wing-back or a winger if we need. [He has the] athletic capacity to go up and down.
“Paul is definitely a different kind of keeper, that’s for sure. He already achieved quite good experience in his career by playing in top leagues in France and Belgium with big clubs and for the French U21s.
“Obviously he’s a keeper that switches the idea [of how we play]. We want a keeper that could help us build-up and help us to defend higher up the pitch.”
Having registered a pair of victories against UE Santa Coloma and FC L’Escala during a training camp in Girona, Cifuentes are taking on Tottenham at Loftus Road today.
QPR will also host Premier League Brighton before getting their Championship campaign underway against West Brom on August 10.
The Rangers boss admitted he is pleased to be facing such difficult opposition as he prepares for his first full season in English football.
“It’s a good test for us at an early stage of pre-season,” said Cifuentes.
“We wanted to play the best opposition we could find. We had the first stage of preparation in Girona but we knew coming back to London the opposition would be another level.
“Having an opportunity to play against such a good team with a manager I admire will be a very good challenge for us and a good reference to see where we are at this moment.”
Cifuentes revealed that Lyndon Dykes could play some part against Spurs after missing the trip to Girona and Scotland’s Euro 2024 campaign with an ankle injury.
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