QPR 'must be like Barcelona' to avoid relegation says Harry Redknapp

The Hoops are currently bottom of the Premier League

Striker Bobby Zamora returns to his former club this weekend (Getty)

Harry Redknapp has told QPR they must work like Barcelona in order to win their battle against relegation from the Barclays Premier League.

QPR head to Fulham on Monday night bottom of the table, seven points adrift of Aston Villa in 17th place and with only eight matches left to dig themselves out of trouble.

Redknapp remains convinced QPR can do it and he believes their attacking stars like Bobby Zamora, Adel Taarabt and Loic Remy will be key to their chances.

But the manager insisted the most important factor in the fight for survival will be QPR's work ethic, a quality he admires in Barcelona.

"The best teams work the hardest," said Redknapp.

"People think the best teams just play football. It's a fallacy. The best team in the world is Barcelona and they are hardest-working team.

"They work harder than anyone else without the ball and they work harder than anyone else when they've got the ball.

"We've got to work hard too. It's not a case of picking scrappers. Whoever I pick, whether they think they're skilful players or not, they've all got to work.

"We can get out of it. We're playing well. If we were in bad form I'd be more worried.

"That gives us a chance. With eight games to go, that's positive for us. There are four or five wins for us in the games left.

"We've got to go to Fulham and win the game. It's a local derby, we'll take a huge following with us. We want a positive result."

Redknapp insisted that Taarabt remains part of his plans for the run-in, despite dropping him for the wins against Southampton and Sunderland.

But the Moroccan enigma impressed Redknapp off the bench against Villa and his match-winning qualities could be crucial for QPR in the coming weeks.

"He is a great talent but, like everybody, he has to work hard," Redknapp said.

"When you do what he can do you're never going to be consistent. The only one who does play like that is Lionel Messi but he works his socks off, too."

Redknapp has taken heart from QPR's recent run and he has been boosted by the return to fitness of Zamora for the trip to former club.

"Bobby is back and that's a big plus. We're in good shape," Redknapp said.

"We've just got to make sure that we go to Fulham and pick up the result we need. It's a local derby. We'll take plenty of support.

"We have to perform like we did against Chelsea. It's in our hands, it's up to us."

Redknapp dismissed reports linking him with a return to West Ham.

"I was embarrassed when I read that. They've got a manager. Sam [Allardyce] has done a great job there and is talking about signing a new contract. They don't need me," he said.

PA