Steven Gerrard is feeling the pressure from Al-Ettifaq fans as his team’s winless streak extends to three games. The former Aston Villa manager, who joined Al-Ettifaq in July on a two-year contract, has made significant signings from Europe, including Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum.
However, a recent 1-0 defeat to Al-Riyadh has left Al-Ettifaq without a win in their last three league matches. They currently occupy the seventh spot in the Saudi Pro League and trail the league leaders, Al-Hilal, by nine points.
In the aftermath of the loss, Gerrard expressed his disappointment, stating, “We didn’t show what was required of us. We weren’t at the level we’d hope to be at.”
“The opposition’s plan was clear to frustrate and wait for the opportunities. The mistakes cost us today, we gifted three points to Al Riyadh.”
Despite Gerrard’s explanation, Al-Ettifaq’s fans remain unconvinced and have voiced their concerns on social media.
One frustrated supporter commented, “Being a great player does not mean being an excellent coach. The coach’s capabilities are limited and he could not understand the difficulty of the Saudi League.”
Another fan placed the blame on Gerrard, saying, “You are the one who bears blame for today’s match. Correct your mistakes.”
A third supporter criticized the team, saying, “Your team is disastrous, Coach. You must correct it yourself.”
Meanwhile, another fan dismissed Gerrard’s excuses, stating, “The excuse is unacceptable. This is the state of the team. What is new that you can say?”
Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq will have the opportunity to break their winless streak when they face Al-Wehda on Saturday, followed by a King Cup of Champions matchup with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr on Tuesday.”
Al Ittifaq performance and stats
Al Ettifaq
Al Ittifaq is currently 7th in the Pro League with 17 points.
In the last 10 games, it has won 5 times, drawn twice, and lost 3 times. In its last match, Al Ittifaq lost 1-0 against Al Riyadh.
It has a positive goal difference after scoring 16 goals and conceding 12.
Al Ittifaq will play the next match in Pro League against Al Wahda on Wednesday 25th of October in Mecca.
