Marti Cifuentes makes QPR 'target' admission amid busy summer transfer window
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QPR boss Marti Cifuentes has warned his players they must respond if they want to keep new signings out of the starting XI. The Hoops have been very busy in the summer transfer window, snapping up as many as 12 new signings, including two loans and 10 permanent deals.
Despite those signings, QPR lost their season opener to promotion hopefuls West Brom and will head into this weekend looking to bounce back, although it gets no easier against another team expected to be right up there come May in Sheffield United.
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Hide AdWith changes aplenty within his squad, Hoops boss Cifuentes has warned that it is up to each player to prove their worth regardless of their arrival date.
“It’s up to the players,” he said, as per the South London Press. “If we sign a new player they will not just go straight into the 11, they need to show the quality and show that they are ready. In that case I don’t care if they are 37 or they are 17, [and] I don’t look at the transfer fee.
“I am very happy to give opportunities to academy players that really deserve it. Alfie had a good game against Cambridge and Rayan got an assist in his first start for the club [against West Brom]. It’s good news for the club that there are academy players performing and contributing for us. It is totally up to all of them, that applies to Koki and Dembele [as well].”
Cifuentes also spoke about the club’s transfer focus and bedding in those new signings. “The idea is we are trying to bring players that adapt naturally to what we want to do and to my football idea – that is the target,” he added.
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Hide Ad“Hopefully it will help to adapt quicker and then it is about adjusting to the relations on the pitch with the other players. I am very aware that it will take some time before this team can start performing at its highest level. It’s the natural process of all football teams. How long will it take? I don’t know. It may take a few weeks or a few months. But it will take some time before we see the picture that we would like to have.”
QPR’s latest signings were loan additions Karamoko Dembélé and Koki Saito, and only one of those new additions is likely to be ready to play this weekend. “They (Dembele and Saito) will bring skills and qualities that we were looking for,” Cifuentes continued.
“Both of them bring good quality on one-v-one’s, they have proven to create goal chances in their short careers as young players. I am happy to add players that can develop because they are at an age where they can contribute to our performances but also we can help them to grow as players. Both of them are coming from different situations. Karamoko is coming from his team in France, where he played four friendly games [during pre-season], he has been playing a decent amount of minutes.
“We will see how he responds to training tomorrow but he’s looking at a good fitness level. Koki is coming from the Olympics [with Japan]. He had one week off before arriving here, so he’s not stopped that long but he needs to get back to training every day. The performance team has been evaluating them over the last few days and I don’t think it will be long before they start to help.”
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