Marti Cifuentes, the manager of QPR, clarified the reason behind substituting Koki Saito during the team’s 1-1 draw with Plymouth. He mentioned that Saito was replaced at half-time due to fatigue, despite his lively performance in the first half. The decision to bring on Zan Celar was to take advantage of Plymouth being down to 10 men after the sending-off of Adam Forshaw.
Playing with two centre-forwards was a tactic employed by Cifuentes to put more pressure inside the box, but unfortunately, Celar missed a couple of good chances. Cifuentes explained, “Koki was feeling very tired. We felt it was a good way to play against 10 men to put a bit more pressure inside the box.” He acknowledged that the strategy worked well initially but lost effectiveness when Frey became exhausted.
Reflecting on the game, Cifuentes expressed disappointment at only securing one point, stating, “Only getting one point from a game like this is not enough.” Despite this, he highlighted some positive aspects of the team’s performance, particularly the strong start to the game. He emphasized the need to improve in maintaining possession and creating more chances, especially after Plymouth went down to nine men.
Looking ahead, Cifuentes remains optimistic about the team’s progress and their ability to execute their game plan effectively. He indicated that there is no cause for concern as long as the team continues to work towards their objectives and play as a cohesive unit.
In conclusion, the draw against Plymouth may not have been the desired outcome for QPR, but there were valuable lessons learned from the match. The team’s ability to adapt to different game scenarios and make strategic decisions will be crucial in their quest for success in the Championship season.
