QPR midfielder opens up on contract future with deal up at the end of the season

QPR midfielder Lucas Andersen says there have yet to be any talks over extending his current contract at Loftus Road.

The Danish international joined the west Londoners last winter on an 18–month deal from Aalborg on a free transfer.

Andersen has made 40 appearances and picked up six goal contributions so far under boss Marti Cifuentes.

When asked if there had been any update on his future, Andersen told the South London Press: “Not yet.

“I’m just happy as long as I’m here. Me and my family are very happy and we want to stay to be a part of the project.

“Luckily, there are other heads to take care of that sort of business – agents and the club.

“There are a lot of things going on. We will take it [those conversations] whenever the time comes.

“It’s closely aligned. If you perform well on the pitch, it usually goes a bit easier when you head into the office.

“I’m just focusing on getting back from my injury and then hopfully some time soon we can have that talk.

“To be a part of a club that is working the way QPR is, you feel the history and the love from the fans. The guys that I see here every day, it’s such a good environment.

“There is something growing here and it’s amazing to be a part of that.”

Key players Jake Clarke-Salter, Ilias Chair and Rayan Kolli have all penned new deals in recent months.

“It shows a great belief in things that are happening at the club,” added Andersen.

“The facilities, the fans, the stadium – everything is there. It’s a good thing in the rebuilding phase that you’re just below the other London clubs.

“You can really grow and set up a good structure. You can be there in the shadows to make your move at some point.

“This club has all the possibilities to be great. Key players are re-signing. It’s a healthy sign of the club structure and the way the team is performing.”

QPR were bottom of the table in late November before a 2-0 win at Cardiff City courtesy of a Zan Celar double.

But a string of strong performances – including wins against Norwich, Oxford, Preston and Watford – has seen Rangers move into the tightly contested middle pack of the Championship.

They were just six points off the play-off spots before Saturday’s trip to The Den to take on Millwall.

“Sometimes you learn from the down periods,” said Andersen, reflecting on the start of the season.

“You learn what to do better and to keep putting in the work. We took it from there and started to improve our game in general as well.

“Looking at the last eight or nine games, we have been able to gain control in the games – it gives us a better foundations to win games as well.

“It’s always tough when you lose games. It’s such a big part of your life and it affects your private life as well.

“After finishing off last season really strong, the feeling in the group was good. It shows the honest truth about the Championship.

“Sometimes you get into periods where it’s not clicking at all and all the results are against you.

“Suddenly, you click into gear and eight games later, you’re midtable and you feel that you’re doing a lot of stuff well.”

This is Andersen’s second spell under Cifuentes.

The former Ajax youth product, who progressed into the first team to play in Champions League games against the likes of Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain, was managed by the Spaniard during his time in charge of Aalborg.

“He’s a very modern manager and he really breathes football,” said Andersen.

“It’s his life and he wants to be as good as possible. It’s nice to see a coach who has ambitions for himself.

“He wants to reach the highest level. There is a lot of detail and with the way he manages people as well.

“Some of the resilience and making sure we keep on doing what we’re doing and don’t compromise from that.

“In terms of the way we play and the results we get from playing that way shows what he is capable of.”

So after a turbulent start to the season, what is the goal for QPR in the second half of the campaign?

“We’re all allowed to dream without saying anything in particular,” said Andersen.

“We all have ambition, but with where we are and if you take the previous 12 months into consideration, we know how fast it can go – up or down.

“We have to take it a game at the time and see where it leaves us.

“We feel that something is growing in the group.”

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