Norwich City head coach Daniel Farke has prepared the Championship leaders to face a QPR in tip-top condition, as they embark on a new era following Steve McClaren’s dismissal.
The Canaries have a different agenda, as they look to strike the first blow in the Championship promotion race, with Leeds United and Sheffield United in action later on Saturday.
But Farke admitted the timing could not be worse, after McClaren left following a run of just one league win in the past 16.
“There is always a bit of fresh air when a change happens,” he said. “That has nothing to do with Steve McClaren going. He is an experienced coach who has had a lot of success in his career. It has nothing to do with the quality of the caretaker.
“But what you might find is some players come back into the side who had not been playing and want to prove they should be in the starting line up.
“Maybe the ones who have been in the starting line up want to show these poor results were not down to them. Plus they all know there is a new coach maybe sitting in the stand and they want to be in the plans for the future.
“Perhaps if they had not made this change and we went ahead in the game it could have helped us, but when there is a new manager and you go in the lead I would expect they show a lot of resilience and resistance.
“We have to be focused from the first second.”
Farke’s title contending squad responded over the last two match weekends to later kick-offs than either Leeds and Sheffield United, but his mantra ahead of Saturday’s lunchtime date at Carrow Road remains the same.
“Let’s focus on what we can influence. The only thing we can influence is the QPR game,” he said.
“That is our task and the only thing in our head is points. Let’s not speak what happens in two weeks or what the opponents are doing.
“We had this a few weeks again when we played Swansea on the Friday night and had the chance to get a good result and put some pressure on.
“I have analysed the last few QPR games and it is perhaps only two or three per cent that was the difference between a positive or negative result.
“A few weeks ago they were able to get a clean sheet win against Leeds.
“That tells you there is quality, without any doubt. In the autumn they were the team of the moment. Something like five or six wins on the spin and Steve McClaren is manager of the month.”
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