Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard’s spell in the Middle East has hit a rough patch, with his Al-Ettifaq squad stumbling down the Saudi Pro League standings.
Since stepping into the managerial role at Al-Ettifaq in the summer of 2023, Gerrard hasn’t had the smoothest of rides. Initially joined by former Reds teammate Jordan Henderson, Gerrard could only scrap together six victories from his first 14 league games and revealed a “dressing room of sadness”.
Squandering a start that only saw them reach sixth place last season, Gerrard entered the new season buoyed by financial backing and a fresh contract expected to see him at the helm until 2027, setting the fanbase’s hopes high. Yet, the dream has soured as the current season wears on, with just three wins in nine matches under their belt.
Frustration is palpable among the supporters, the board’s faith is waning, and the feeling of letdown seems to have bled into this term – echoing the disappointment expressed by Gerrard back in 2023.
Reflecting then on a 1-1 stalemate with former champions Al-Ittihad – where ex-Red Georginio Wijnaldum netted Al-Ettifaq’s lone goal – Gerrard articulated his and the team’s dismay. “The dressing room was full of sadness on my player’s faces because of the draw,” Gerrard stated. “We are disappointed with the result. We were closer to getting the three points. No player deserves to be changed, to be honest. That’s why we did not use the bench for this match.
Henderson has since departed to Ajax, leaving Gerrard struggling to find momentum with Al-Ettifaq. His squad has managed only eight goals in nine league games this term.
The dip in form was highlighted by a 2-0 defeat to Al-Qadsiah, leaving fans disgruntled and questioning Gerrard’s decisions. Understandably, the atmosphere turned sour as the squad and Gerrard faced the music of boos post-match.
“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. I bear full responsibility for using a young player (Meshal Sibyani), as he has little experience. Using him was not appropriate, but due to injuries, we were put in this position,” Gerrard admitted after the result
On the back of recent results in my position, you are always aware of disappointment from fans, and I have to take that responsibility on my shoulders. This is what I will do and continue to fight and work to improve the recent results.”
Gerrard’s players will face reigning champion Al-Hilal – a team packed with talent including Alexander Mitrovic, Ruben Neves, and Joao Cancelo – in their next game.
