Colback: The Championship has changed since I turned pro

Jack Colback believes the impact of Marti Cifuentes at QPR proves how much football has changed since he started out as a professional.

The R's boss replaced Gareth Ainsworth at Loftus Road in October with the club sitting 23rd in the Championship and having lost six straight matches.

Cifuentes has overseen a run of just two defeats in his first eight games — but it is his attention to detail that has most impressed summer signing Colback.

He told LiveScore: "He [Cifuentes] is very intense in what he does and he's almost had to drip-feed that because it's such a big change.

"He can't give too much information at once but we've showed in performances that we are starting to get what he wants and all the lads have bought into it.

"There are a lot of small details that have changed. I think that's different now compared to when I first started playing when it was generally a lot of similar methods and players.

"Now there are so many things, like slight positional changes or where we hold our line. I could be here all day talking about the details he teaches us.

"He wants us to be brave and show personality and now we just need to pick up wins."

Back in the mix

Cifuentes has also revived two of QPR's brightest talents, Chris Willock and Ilias Chair.

Both were exceptional for periods last season but Willock found himself out of favour under Ainsworth, while Chair also lost his way.

The attacking midfielders have now rediscovered their form and Colback, 34, is sure they have big futures in the game.

He said: "Chris struggled with game time and it's always difficult when you're not playing to get that rhythm, especially in his position.

"He's now showing what he can do.

"Ilias is a player who just wants to win games. He has huge determination, motivation and skill. 

"He has the trademark cut onto his right foot but if you show him onto his left he can take that option too.

"He can be irritating to play against in training but it's nice to have him in our team."

Improving standards

QPR take on Southampton — one of the three teams relegated from the Premier League immediately challenging for promotion back to the top flight — at Loftus Road tomorrow.

Colback believes teams dropping into the second tier are increasingly improving, resulting in a higher standard of football.

He said: "I'd say it [the standard] is getting better.

"I remember my first season at Ipswich was very different, it was a lot more hard work and being solid and winning scrappy games.

"Now you see the majority of teams playing out from the back, teams with inverted full-backs and lots of other different movements.

"We've already played Southampton once and they were very extreme in playing that way.

"But for us, we feel like we can compete with any team in this league. Hopefully we can show them what we can do at Loftus Road."