Žan Celar (foto: Uradni FB/TW/IG profil igralca)
Žan Celar scored twice for QPR against Cardiff, breaking his scoring drought and earning praise from goalkeeper Paul Nardi and coach Marti Cifuentes for his perseverance.
Žan Celar finally broke his scoring drought for Queens Park Rangers, netting two crucial goals in their victory over Cardiff City. The Slovenian striker had struggled to adapt since his transfer from Lugano, but his brace not only lifted his confidence but also brought joy to the entire club.
Celar had faced intense scrutiny after failing to score in his first matches for QPR. Fans were quick to point out that none of his 27 shots had found the back of the net, and the pressure mounted further last weekend when he missed a penalty against Stoke City. Despite the setback, coach Marti Cifuentes showed faith in Celar, keeping him in the starting XI for the Cardiff clash—and the decision paid off.
QPR goalkeeper Paul Nardi was full of praise for the striker after the match:
"I'm so happy for Žan. He's a real fighter. After missing the penalty, he had a very tough week, but when he scored, you could see how much the team believes in him. We're a close-knit group, and that's why we're so happy for him," said Nardi.
Coach Marti Cifuentes echoed those sentiments and highlighted the collective effort behind Celar’s breakthrough:
"The entire team was very supportive of him. He had everyone’s backing, and that’s crucial—those goals were goals for all of us. Žan is a great guy who works hard, and finally, he’s been rewarded. I hope his confidence grows and that there are many more goals to come," said the 42-year-old Spaniard.
Celar’s brace was a huge relief for the striker, whose determination and hard work have now started to bear fruit. QPR will be hoping that this is just the beginning of a more prolific spell for the Slovenian international.