Steven Gerrard’s Saudi Arabaia future ‘in the balance’ after nightmare run of results and assistant on verge of quitting
STEVEN GERRARD’s future as Al-Ettifaq manager is understood to be up in the air following a torrid run of form.
The Liverpool legend’s Saudi stay was all sunshine and rainbows early doors, with his troop winning five of their first seven Pro League matches.
But they have since fallen on hard times, failing to register a single win in their last EIGHT matches in all competitions.
Al-Ettifaq chiefs have seemingly given Gerrard some extra leeway due to his star power.
But their patience with the former England midfielder is reportedly wearing thin.
That’s according to The Guardian, who claim the 43-year-old’s reign as manager is currently hanging “in the balance”.
And it’s also claimed his No.2 Ian Foster is on the brink of quitting to take charge of Plymouth Argyle.
Gerrard knows his job is on the line and recently admitted his charges are going through a barren spell.
But he hopes reinforcements this month will turn around the team’s fortunes.
Speaking before their 1-1 draw with bottom club Al-Hazm, he said: “We need to be aggressive, we need to be ruthless.
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“And we need to make a lot of changes to make this team more competitive.
“We need to show in this window, and also the summer window, that we mean business and we want to be competitive at the top of the league.
“And not where we are at the moment.
“It’s a collective thing – the players here and now need to give more, and people need to step up, and, at the right time.
“We will hopefully be able to make significant changes to the team and the squad.
“Hopefully, at the back end of January, you will see a different, stronger and more competitive squad.”
Al-Ettifaq will be back in action on February 15, taking on Al-Khaleej.