Leicester, despite being viewed as the top team in the Championship and leading the table, has suffered three consecutive defeats in their recent league matches. It was unusual to see Queens Park Rangers’ manager, Marti Cifuentes, at the King Power Stadium, considering he left my hometown club, Sandefjord, in 2020 after coaching them from 2018.
As a local, I was eagerly anticipating the game where my favorite football team, Leicester, faced off against Queens Park Rangers. Witnessing Marti on the sidelines coaching QPR against Leicester and emerging victorious was a surreal experience. Despite being a Leicester fan, I admired how Marti tactically outwitted Enzo Maresca, using a fox (Morgan Fox) to outfox him and secure the win.
Maresca had mentioned before the game that Marti had transformed QPR, instilling a possession-based and attacking style of play. However, Marti’s pragmatic approach, sticking to a strict plan and capitalizing on scoring opportunities, along with a bit of luck, proved effective. His decision to bring on Morgan Fox in the 72nd minute, removing a midfielder, was crucial in turning the game in QPR’s favor. Fox, who had previously made a late appearance in a 1-1 draw against Huddersfield, has had limited playtime in the 2023/2024 Championship season, featuring in 12 matches and playing 746 minutes.
Although it was disappointing to see Leicester lose, I felt proud to witness Marti’s progression in his journey towards top football management. Marti has previously worked in the academies of Millwall and Ajax, but his role at QPR marks his highest-level managerial position, following stints in Norway (Sandefjord), Sweden (Hammarby), and Denmark (Aalborg).
Be the first to comment