Steven Gerrard is enduring an awful second season at Al-Ettifaq, with the Liverpool legend now seeing his side go seven games without a win in the Saudi Pro League
Steven Gerrard is enduring an awful second season at Al-Ettifaq, with the Liverpool legend now seeing his side go seven games without a win in the Saudi Pro League Steven Gerrard is enduring an awful second season at Al-Ettifaq, with the Liverpool legend now seeing his side go seven games without a win in the Saudi Pro League
Steven Gerrard has reached a fresh low in Saudi Arabia after his Al-Ettifaq side lost again on Friday night.
Gerrard arrived at Ettifaq in the summer of 2023, leading them to a sixth place finish in the Saudi Pro League last season. But his second campaign has been nothing short of a disaster, with his side winning just three games.
In fact their last league win came on 14 September, with his side going on a seven-game winless run in the Pro League since then. That has left them 11th in the table, 17 points adrift of leaders Al-Hilal.
That awful form comes despite Gerrard being heavily backed in the transfer market. Their performances have seen the Liverpool legend booed by a significant section of the Ettifaq fan base, with many also chanting for him to ‘get out’.
The pressure was piled onto Gerrard on Friday night when Ettifaq fell to a convincing defeat att Hilal. Goals either side of half-time from Aleksandar Mitrovic and Malcolm put the hosts in control.
Victor Vinicius Coelho dos Santos scored a consolation penalty in stoppage time, before Mohammed Al-Qahtani added a third for Hilal shortly after. Abdullah Radif was then sent off for Gerrard’s men to cap off another awful night.
Gerrard took full responsibility for his side’s awful run following Friday’s defeat, though did put some of the blames on injuries to his squad. But he admitted that Ettifaq had now been drawn into an ’embarrassing’ situation.
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“I spoke to the players. If we had performed like this before, we would not have put ourselves in this embarrassing situation, but I bear the responsibility. We conceded the first goal from a set piece,” he said.
“Previously, we used to defend better from set pieces. The second goal was scored by a young player, and he made the same mistake he made against Al-Fayha. The player is young, and I bear responsibility for the second goal.
“I bear full responsibility for using a young player in defence, as he has little experience. His recruitment was to prepare him for development and the future, and using him was not appropriate, but due to injuries, we were put in this position.”
Gerrard has also hit back at the supporters who have been calling for his head. Instead, the Liverpool legend has vowed to continue on, as he fights to save himself from a second successive sacking.
“On the back of recent results in my position you are always aware of disappointment from fans, I have to take that responsibility on my shoulders. That is what I will do and continue to fight and work to improve the recent results,” he said.
“I don’t react, change or get over-concerned about social media or anyone on the outside of Ettifaq’s opinion, my priority is this club. I listen to the people within and continue to support my players.”
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