QPR boss Cifuentes values Championship survival this season above the last Great Escape
Rangers were bottom of the second tier and six points from safety when Cifuentes was appointed head coach in October 2023 but finished in 18th place and six points above danger following a remarkable run of form in the second part of the campaign.
The west London club also found themselves bottom of the standings heading into the winter months this term, owing much to a lengthy injury list, but they are now eight points clear of the bottom three with four games left to play.
“I value what this team has achieved this season so far more than what we achieved last season,” said Cifuentes.
“Last season was big. It was a very big effort from everyone to escape from relegation and we did but I think what everybody from this group has been through this season is even more tough – 100 per cent.
“So I give a lot of value to have 50 points [this season] and big credit to the players. They are an honest group and we have been through a lot of difficult moments this season and together with the fans we have almost done it. Now is the last push.
“Let’s try to see if we can do better than last season in terms of position in the table and in terms of points but at the moment to have 50 points… great job from the players.”
After ending a seven-game winless run in midweek against Oxford United, Rangers started their 1-1 draw against Bristol City on Saturday in confident fashion.
A brilliant team goal was finished off by Kader Dembele as QPR took the lead midway through the first half but they were pegged back before half-time when Bristol City’s George Earthy struck.
The draw means that Rangers are on 50 points, but Cifuentes is not yet willing to suggest safety from relegation is secure.
“I’ve been talking about 50 points as a first target,” he said. “It looks good, at the moment the distance [from the bottom three] should be eight points plus the goal difference.
“That’s all I’m going to say about this. There’s four games left and we need to keep pushing.
“I look more up, we are three points behind the next team in the table. That’s where my aim is. But big credit to the guys for the shift they made in a difficult week for us in terms of the injury situation and it wasn’t easy to play against Cardiff [last weekend] in the bad trend that we started the week.
“The performances and the amount of points could have been even better but we need to give a lot of credit to the team in the situation where it is to finish with five points and three decent performances, especially the last two.”
