QPR boss Marti Cifuentes confronts Sunderland interest, transfers and Rs' future

QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes confronted rumours of interest from Championship rivals Sunderland in his coaching services head-on after his side defeated Leeds United 4-0 at Loftus Road on Friday night.

The Rs secured their place in the Championship with the eye-catching win, which made it job completed for the Catalan head coach, who had been tasked with rescuing the club from the relegation zone when arriving in October. Cifuentes has impressed in his time at QPR, stabilising the side and bringing a calmness to the club's relegation battle.

It is no surprise therefore that Cifuentes has been touted as a potential candidate to take over at Sunderland given the impact he has made on the Championship. The Black Cats are currently under the stewardship of Mike Dodds on an interim basis with a permanent appointment expected this summer.

The QPR head coach was asked if he could confirm to QPR supporters that he was committed to the project in west London and said: "I think if we believe everything we see on social media, it's going to be a long night. No, I have nothing to say. I'm very focused on tonight's game and enjoying that."

Just three points separate 17th-placed QPR and 15th-placed Sunderland in the Championship with one match left this season. The Rs travel to Coventry City this weekend but will enter the match free of the relegation pressure that has been ever-present this term.

Cifuentes was also asked about his early goals for next season after the Leeds United victory and said: "I said when I came here that when we win football games, which is not every weekend, we should celebrate. That's what I'm going to do, enjoy tonight's victory because it means a lot.

"If you ask me about the future, we will sit, analyse and be humble. It's easy to get carried away and there's a lot of work to be done in the future. I think we need to remain humble and understand there are a lot of things we can do better."

After such an impressive showing against promotion chasing Leeds United, Cifuentes was also asked if that kind of purring performance could attract big names to the football club once the summer transfer window opens this summer.

Not wanting to get ahead of himself, the head coach said: “I think that QPR is a strong brand enough to attract a lot of players, it’s not just about tonight’s performance but building that strong identity with the history of the club, playing attacking football, that has a fantastic fan base and top training facilities. I will think on the long term from tomorrow.”