The FA Cup is a glamour trophy in world football

Last updated : 02 January 2009 By Tony Scholes
There's a new manager in place at QPR since our win their in the league with Paulo Sousa having replaced caretaker boss Gareth Ainsworth. Sousa said: "Saturday marks the start of our FA Cup adventure and I am very excited about managing QPR in the most famous cup competition in world football.

"I grew up watching the cup back home in Portugal and I know a lot about the history of the competition and the fond place it holds in the hearts of English football fans. Some of the most iconic images in football history stem from the FA Cup and I am really excited about the prospect of participating in the competition.

"I am glad we are at home, because our record at Loftus Road is very positive and we are enjoying a good unbeaten run here. We will prepare like we do for every fixture and the focus remains on winning the match, and on this occasion, advancing to the next round."

Owen Coyle has stressed that the priority is on this tie and not Tuesday's against Spurs at White Hart Lane. "I would be very disappointed if the players are not focused on Saturday," he said.

"I haven't spoken about Tuesday night and I won't because we have a massive game first against QPR. We know from our Carling Cup exploits what a good cup run can bring to the club in terms of the prestige and glamour that comes with it.

"The FA Cup is a glamour trophy in world football and the PR that comes with a cup run is invaluable to the football club. We are now being mentioned worldwide and recently I did an interview with an Australian national radio station.

"I think it is brilliant that we are getting that coverage globally and an FA Cup run would add to that. But we are going to have to be at our best.

"QPR, like ourselves, would probably have preferred the freshness of playing a team from another division. As it is, we know each other and I think it has a lot of ingredients to make a good cup tie.

"It is a burden in terms of games, but I always felt as a player that you would rather be playing games than training."

Coyle added: "There is no better feeling that winning games and the FA Cup is one we want to win. Realistically you always look at the big guns as the teams who will feature in the latter stages. But the FA Cup, last season in particular, showed that others can equip themselves well.

"Clubs like Cardiff and Barnsley showed it can be good for the club and the team if you progress. We are at the start of that journey, but we still want to go as far as we can."

He will be looking for the players to bounce back after the two recent defeats and said: "As manager you are looking for a reaction from the defeats and there were positives to take from the second half at Doncaster.

SSo we will go to QPR, where we know that winning feeling, and try to get that back tomorrow."