‘We need to be better’ - QPR boss Marti Cifuentes on necessary improvements following EFL Cup defeat

Queens Park Rangers head coach Marti Cifuentes has said he is ‘proud’ of his squad, despite losing 2-1 to Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup third round.

Eagles star Eddie Nketiah and ex-QPR hero Eberechi Eze denied the Hoops the chance to reach the Carabao Cup fourth round , with Sam Field’s second half equaliser ultimately unable to push the home side over the edge.

Speaking to the press after the game, the QPR boss admitted he had ‘mixed feelings’ over the result, stating that while it was evident which areas needed work, he was proud that everybody showed they were ‘ready to fight’.

“Yeah mixed feelings first of all because at the end we are here to win football games and we didn’t,” Cifuentes stated. “At the end when I went down to the changing rooms every body was down because we had big expectations and get as far as possible in this cup.

“That first goal is a sort of goal we can’t concede. It doesn’t matter if they’re quick or they surprise us we need to be much better.

“I think we got a good period in the second half. We got the feeling that despite the slow start we could really put some pressure on this premier League team and a side with a very strong starting XI.

“Proud of the guys because I think every body showed they were ready to contribute and to fight.”

When asked what changed in the dressing room at half time that signalled the start of QPR’s intended fight-back, the Spaniard added: “I think we got more sequences on the ball. What we need to be better is we had a lot of opportunities today value the position and step up but in this moment we took low risk. So we need to grow in certain aspects of the game.

“Unfortunately when we were playing the better football of the game, we concede the second goal. It’s a deflection but still Eze is an extremely good player so this can happen.”

One area that was notably different for Cifuentes tonight was Kenneth Paal’s positioning with the ball, with the right-back taking on a much more central position. The Spanish boss also utilised goal-scorer Field - who previously came off against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday citing a feeling of dizziness - in central defense as opposed to the usual occupant of Jimmy Dunne and when asked why Cifuentes had opted to make such decisions, the Rs head coach said: “It’s about finding solutions.”

“With both Paul (Nardi) and (Joe) Walsh pushing a little bit wider, then the centre halves pushing a bit wider, (Ken in central) can give us an extra man on the midfield.

“We know than Ken is very good in tight spaces, he’s played a lot there in his career. He played central midfield in Netherlands so it’s about finding the best ways to create different structures and balance the opposition and as well.

“I think Sam played well (at centre-back). Being left footed gave us another dimension. Jimmy has been playing a lot of minutes the start of the season and Sam had that unfortunate “feeling” against Sheffield so in some ways he was more fresh.

“I’m a big believer in fresh legs. Decision we made as well to give Jonathan (Varane) a lot of minutes to get him used to English football and with his teammates - I’m satisfied with how it went.”