2023-11-20 14:25:52
Steven Gerrard, former England international and Liverpool’s biggest star, is now the coach of Al-Ettifaq. At 43, he was one of the big names in this summer’s Saudi exodus and associated this change in his life with the one Cristiano Ronaldo had made a few months earlier.
«The arrival of Cristiano, the GOAT [maior de todos os tempos], as we called him, was a big deal because he still had a lot to offer. From then on, I followed him from afar for six months. I looked at the League, results, games and I think that from that moment on the Saudi League started to be talked about all over the world. After the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo, even more big names and talents decided to join.”
In case the statements leave any doubts, the interview in question was given directly to the official platforms of the Saudi League, which published the conversation this past weekend. Gerrard also spoke about his more personal side, at the time of change for a different football:
«Al Ettifaq’s proposal and this opportunity were what excited me the most. I came to the club where the management is passionate, they understand where the club is, that it is something that needs to be built and that this will take time. This work takes time, especially when a club finished in seventh place, so many points behind the top four», he explained.
«It’s not easy, nor is it something you can change in a week, a month or six months. It’s a project to build on the field, that’s the priority, but there are many things that have to be changed to give the team the support it needs”, he said. Stevie G.
Now, after four months and 13 rounds, Al-Ettifaq remains in the same seventh place as they finished last season, with just one victory in the last seven games. In the Dammam squad, names such as Henderson, Wijnaldum (both formerreds), Moussa Dembélé, Demarai Gray or Quantoon, as well as Paulo Victor, goalkeeper who in 2021/22 was in Portugal with Marítimo.
????️ “When my agent brought me the opportunity for Ettifaq, I thought it was most exciting”
Steven Gerrard talks life at @Ettifaq_EN in this exclusive interview ????????#yallaRSL
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) November 18, 2023
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