Queens Park Rangers reaction | Omer Riza
Omer Riza spoke to the press after City’s 2-0 home defeat to QPR.
“We created a lot of chances, a lot of opportunities, we tried to apply pressure, but we lacked that last bit,” Omer began. “We had a few opportunities that were saved, so we did create enough to be able to score, but that first goal came against the run of play. We didn’t deal with the throw in and get a good enough clearance on the header, then the striker turns and scores from nothing.
“We’ve gone in one down and that was probably a little harsh, but then you’re chasing the game. Then that feeling of sensing and knowing you have to come back and try and win the game sets in. We want to win, it’s a game we need to win, but you know you have to score two goals in order to do so.
"We made adjustments at the break and talked about what we need to do to be able to create more and score, and the belief was there that we could go on and win the game, but it didn’t come.
“The second goal comes from us being as attacking as we can to try and get back in the game, and then the goal comes from a run against play, and they come away with three points, while we come away highly frustrated.”
Despite having more shots across the 90 minutes, Žan Celar’s second goal of the game in stoppage time sealed all three points for the R's.
Omer continued: “QPR put their bodies on the line, and they blocked and cleared. Were our balls decisive enough? Did we put balls into areas where we can make it harder for them? The second half we did a little bit more, but I can’t put my finger on it other than the fact that we’ve come off a little bit of our quality in possession.
"The boys who have the ability to make a real difference have been lacking a bit in those areas; final pass being nicked, final touch, whether to turn or drive at somebody. They are things that we can take back to the training ground and work on, but the players have got to step up in respect of focus and delivery of what they need to do.”
Omer ended by giving a fitness update on Anwar El Ghazi.
“Anwar has picked up a strain in his groin. He came off at half time against Blackburn with a little strain. We trained again and he came off with a little strain again. I wanted to look at it a little more.
“He hasn’t played for ten months, so we have to manage him now for two or three weeks in terms of rehab.”