Under-fire Steven Gerrard has borrowed from his Rangers playbook in a bid to swerve mounting pressure at Al-Ettifaq.
But that has failed to halt the heavy criticism being thrown at the boss after a downturn in Saudi Pro League form. Ettifaq slumped to a surprise defeat to Al-Raed last weekend taking their winless run to three games with the side plummeting out of early season title contention and dropping to eighth spot in the table.
The former Aston Villa and Rangers manager pulled out a tactic he used at Ibrox in the Middle East as he put the blame on his own shoulders rather than his key stars like Georginio Wijnaldum and Moussa Dembele. He said after the full-time whistle: “I take responsibility for the loss, and I cannot blame a player or any circumstance. It would be easy to do so, but I see that I am responsible for this result. This is the second match that we have lost at our home ground and I take responsibility for it”
But pressure continues to rise on the Liverpool hero with Saudi outlet Bara 18 reporting that “discontent” in the Ettifaq boardroom is growing over Gerrard’s future at the club. It is noted that the chiefs at the club believe he has “contributed to solving major problems in the team” but his “method of work” is now being questioned.
It is stated that some “do not believe he has the qualities of a successful coach” amid the rocky run of results. However, it is said that others believe they can’t axe Gerrard at this stage as they don’t believe a challenge for the Pro League title was ever on the cards.
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