Terry Venables: QPR boss Marti Cifuentes wants to replicate Venables' attacking game

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Terry Venables (left) leads QPR out against Tottenham Hotspur at WembleyImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Terry Venables led the then second-tier QPR to the FA Cup final in 1982

QPR manager Marti Cifuentes says former boss Terry Venables' attacking style is the club's "foundation".

Venables, who managed Rangers between 1980 and 1984, died on Saturday at the age of 80 after a long illness.

QPR host Stoke in the Championship on Tuesday in their first game since the former England boss died.

"What he achieved with QPR speaks for itself but to make a step like he did to Barcelona says a lot," Cifuentes told BBC Radio London.

"The expression of the attacking game that he tried to play, is the foundation of what QPR is today."

Cifuentes was born in Barcelona and says Venables is still revered at the Catalonian club that he led to their first league title in 11 years in 1985.

Venables, who also spent five years as a player at QPR, took charge at Loftus Road in 1980 and led the team, still in the second tier at that time, to the FA Cup final which they lost to Tottenham Hotspur in 1982.

He guided the west London club to promotion the following year and then a fifth-placed finish in their first season back in the top flight in his final season before moving to Spain.

"We know about his legacy," Cifuentes added. "If we can achieve just a little bit of what he did that would be amazing.

"One of the things that would make me feel very proud is if people can connect again with that way of playing and approaching the game.

"I'm really looking forward to playing again at Loftus Road for the welcome I got the other week.

"I'm looking forward to bringing the three points for our supporters but now we have another reason - and a very important one - to try to push this extra mile and bring the three points in the memory of Terry."

'I will do what I need to win'

Cifuentes secured a home draw with Bristol City in his first match in charge but then lost 1-0 at Norwich City, who scored with their only shot on target, on Saturday after a strong display.

The former Hammarby boss was delighted with the performance though, and said it had all the characteristics of the high intensity, attacking football he wants to create at QPR once again.

"It was the most complete performance since my arrival," he said.

"Norwich are a difficult team to play against but we pressed high and were the more dominant team. We had more shots on and off target.

"What you must focus on is having very good performances, for me one indicator is how many goal chances you create and how many you concede.

"If that difference, game after game, is big then there is no chance that your football team will not win games.

"It can happen as it did at Norwich, we had more chances on and off target but the reality is they were more clinical and that defines football matches.

"If in a sustained way, over months, you create more chances than the opponents you will win football games. That's where my focus is. That doesn't mean I am not aware of the situation where we are.

"That doesn't mean that always my priority is not to win football games but to look fancy. I will do what I need to win."

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