English coach Steven Gerrard, manager of Al-Ettifaq, confirmed that the team's biggest ambition this season is to secure a place in an international tournament next season, noting that current efforts are focused on restoring the players' physical and mental readiness to achieve this goal. Gerrard emphasized that the team's strength lies in its collective performance, not in relying on any single player, even one of the caliber of Dutch star Georginio Wijnaldum.
These statements were made at the press conference preceding the team's match against Damac FC in the Saudi Professional League, where Gerrard explained that the team possesses the necessary tools to achieve victories. In response to a question about the team's reliance on Wijnaldum as the sole key to victory, he said: “We played against Al-Ittihad, one of the best teams in the league, without Wijnaldum and we managed to score and win. It's about creating opportunities, and I believe we have good players who can make the difference.”.
The general context and ambitions of the new agreement
The agreement's focus on continental participation comes within the context of the historic transformation the Saudi Professional League has been undergoing since the start of the 2023-2024 season. With the Public Investment Fund's acquisition of major clubs and the attraction of international stars, ambitions and competitiveness have risen to unprecedented levels. Within this framework, Al-Ettifaq's project has emerged as one of the most ambitious outside the established "Big Four" clubs, having secured the services of a world-renowned coach, Steven Gerrard, alongside international stars such as Georginio Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson (formerly), and Moussa Dembélé. This project aims to build a team capable of strongly competing for top positions in the league and regularly participating in Asian competitions.
The importance of continental qualification and its expected impact
Achieving the goal of international participation, specifically qualifying for the AFC Champions League, is of paramount strategic importance to Al-Ettifaq. Domestically, this achievement will solidify the club's position as a rising football force in the Kingdom and demonstrate the success of its new project. Regionally, participation in the continent's premier tournament will return the "Knights of Ad-Dahna" to the forefront of Asian football after a period of absence, increasing its commercial value and appeal to players and investors. Internationally, the presence of a team coached by a legend like Gerrard in a continental championship will contribute to increased viewership of the Saudi League and its sporting projects, thus serving the broader vision for Saudi sports.
Gerrard also addressed the impact of the league schedule and the numerous breaks, saying, “The league schedule wasn’t ideal at the beginning due to the many breaks, which negatively affected the rhythm of our team and many others.” He added that their opponent, Damac FC, had made good changes and signings during the winter transfer window, while also emphasizing that his team is always exceptional when playing at home in front of their fans.
