Marti Cifuentes is of the opinion that Elijah Dixon-Bonner has demonstrated his reliability as a player for the new QPR manager after his promising full league debut. Dixon-Bonner, a former Liverpool player, had joined Rangers in October and had received limited opportunities under the previous manager, Gareth Ainsworth, even when other midfielders were unavailable.
Prior to his recent full league debut, Dixon-Bonner’s only start for QPR had come in the Carabao Cup match against Norwich in August. However, he played the entire 90 minutes and came close to scoring in the 1-1 draw against Rotherham on Saturday. He was chosen to start ahead of Stephen Duke-McKenna due to the suspensions of Jack Colback and Andre Dozzell.
Cifuentes, who had only conducted two training sessions with his new squad since arriving in west London on Tuesday, expressed his satisfaction with the 22-year-old’s performance alongside Sam Field. Cifuentes commended Dixon-Bonner’s qualities, describing him as a versatile midfielder, often referred to as an “eight,” capable of contributing both defensively and offensively, with good ball skills.
Cifuentes praised Dixon-Bonner’s technical intelligence and sees him as a player with significant growth potential. He looks forward to better understanding Dixon-Bonner and finding ways to maximize his abilities. Cifuentes emphasized that he doesn’t want to dwell on the past and that everyone is starting from scratch under his leadership.
However, he acknowledged the absence of two key midfielders, Colback and Dozzell, due to suspensions, and highlighted that Dixon-Bonner has demonstrated his reliability and is a player they can count on in the future.
Under Cifuentes’ management, QPR’s playing style underwent an immediate transformation, adopting a more sophisticated approach compared to the previous style under Ainsworth. Chris Willock was included in the starting lineup, and Taylor Richards made an appearance as a second-half substitute.
Cifuentes expressed his admiration for good players like Chris Willock, highlighting his technical quality and the need for him to be decisive. He is hopeful that they can help Willock regain his best form. Despite the challenging game, Cifuentes believes that Willock will be an important player for the team.
Leave a Reply