QPR's Chair 'obsessed' with Premier League aim

Belgium-born Ilias Chair played for Lierse before joining QPR

QPR playmaker Ilias Chair admits he is "obsessed" with reaching the Premier League.

The Morocco international, 27, has been with the club since 2017 and was a standout performer in the Championship before enduring an injury-plagued 2024-25 season.

Now fully fit again, Chair has high hopes for the west London club under recently-appointed head coach Julien Stephan.

"I'm a bit obsessed with getting to the Premier League at this point," Chair said.

"Hopefully that can be with QPR. I've really got a good feeling that I can do that with QPR. This project is a very promising project.

"On a personal level, yes, the Premier League is 100% a dream of mine and I tend to never let go of my dreams, so we'll see what happens."

Chair is also keen to re-establish himself for Morocco.

He was in their 2022 World Cup squad, although he only featured in a third-place play-off against Croatia.

Chair has made just one international appearance since then - and last season's injury woes scuppered his hopes of a return to the fold.

But he has remained in contact with Morocco boss Walid Regragui and hopes to earn a recall.

"I definitely want to go back in there," Chair added.

"It only improves my game - every time I go there, when I come back I feel like I'm a better player because of the players around me. Obviously you learn from them.

"So I definitely want to get back into that squad. I've had conversations with the manager of Morocco. We're keeping in contact and hopefully I can be back in there.

"It's just about getting back on the pitch, being healthy and putting some good performances together - some good team performances, because it's all about the team."

Chair played against Croatia in the 2022 World Cup

Stephan will be the eighth manager Chair has played under at QPR.

The Frenchman has an impressive CV, having led his hometown club Rennes to a French Cup triumph in 2019 - their first trophy for 48 years.

Rangers have not sustained a promotion challenge since being relegated from the top flight 10 years ago.

They are not among the favourites to go up this time around, but will be hoping Stephan can help them beat the odds.

"He's been great. He has different ideas and I'm listening a lot to him," Chair said.

"He has this sort of charisma. He has an aura about him, which maybe I haven't experienced with other managers - other managers have had other qualities.

"He definitely has something special about him, which is very good for us as players.

"I wish I'd known him longer. I spoke to a couple of players that have played under him and they've been positive about him, and so far so good with us."

QPR begin their Championship campaign with a home match against Preston on Saturday.