Leistner ‘honoured’ to captain QPR

Toni Leistner says he was honoured to captain Queens Park Rangers in their 1-0 loss at Preston North End in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday.

The German only arrived at Loftus Road this summer after joining on a free transfer from Union Berlin.

However, the centre-back has clearly impressed Rs boss Steve McClaren with his leadership qualities on the training pitch.

And the 27-year-old says he was filled with an immense sense of pride to be named captain for the west Londoners’ opening league game of the season.

“I’m a new player who has only been here for five or six weeks, but it gives me a lot of pride to captain this football club,” he told the club website.

“The manager has told me that he feels that I’m a leader and I hope that I can lead the team on to great things on the pitch with my performances. I will always give 100 percent in every match.”

McClaren’s tenure as QPR boss did not get off to the best of starts as an Alan Browne goal early in the second half consigned the visitors to defeat at Deepdale.

The disappointment on the opening day of the new term came after a solid pre-season campaign for the Loftus Road side.

And Leistner admitted the team were disappointed with how their performed at Deepdale.

“It wasn’t our best performance — even though we defended well,” he added.

“The goal we conceded was crazy. The free-kick came over and it was a bad goal for us to concede. It shouldn’t have happened.

“I think we can do better — we can play a better style of football. We showed that in pre-season but we couldn’t show that against Preston, unfortunately.”

The Rs are back in action on Saturday when they return home to Loftus Road to entertain Sheffield United.

And Leistner believes McClaren’s men will give a better account of themselves against the Blades.

“Preston play a high-pressing game and we didn’t do what we’ve been practicing on the training pitch,” he said.

“I think next week we’ll play a better style of football.”