QPR new manager, Marti Cifuentes, is planning to appoint fellow Spaniard Xavier Calm as his assistant. Cifuentes and Calm previously worked together at Hammarby, a Swedish club, before Cifuentes took over at Loftus Road. Calm, who is 42 years old, had a stint at Birmingham City, where he initially managed their Under-23 team and was later promoted to the position of first-team coach. He left Birmingham City in May 2020 for family reasons and later managed Spanish side Atlético Baleares before joining Cifuentes in Sweden in July the following year.
Cifuentes outlined his vision for QPR’s playing style, emphasizing “the three Ps” – possession, pressing, and positioning. He explained that possession is used to control the ball, create chances, and exploit gaps. The team will focus on effective pressing to quickly regain possession when they don’t have the ball. Positioning is crucial to ensure the team is well-placed on the field to execute their actions effectively. These principles will serve as the foundation for QPR’s style of play, aiming to be an attacking and bold team that seeks to score and chase additional goals.
Cifuentes takes charge of a team that has recently suffered six consecutive losses and is currently near the bottom of the Championship table. His first game as manager will be against Rotherham, where he expects Steve Cook to return from a hamstring injury, although Jake Clarke-Salter remains sidelined.