Steven Gerrard (foto: Getty Images)
Steven Gerrard may face dismissal from Al-Ettifaq after prioritizing Liverpool match schedules over his team’s training sessions, amid mounting fan frustration.
Steven Gerrard’s position as manager of Saudi club Al-Ettifaq is under serious threat following a 3-1 loss to second-division Al Jabalain in the Saudi Cup. Fan dissatisfaction is growing, and, more unusually, Gerrard is drawing criticism for organizing training schedules around Liverpool’s match times rather than focusing solely on his current club’s performance.
In a recent interview, Gerrard admitted to arranging late training sessions—around 9:00 or 10:00 PM—to ensure he could watch Liverpool games, saying, “Goalkeeper coach John Achterberg and I set the training schedule around Liverpool matches.”
The approach isn’t yielding results for Al-Ettifaq, who haven’t won a league game in over six weeks and sit just five spots above the relegation zone. Earning nearly €18 million, Gerrard could soon lose both his position and salary if results don’t improve.