Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — English manager Steven Gerrard of Al Ettifaq expressed his frustration with some of the referee's decisions following his team's 3-1 defeat to Al Hilal in Round 10 of the Saudi Pro League.

In the post-match press conference, Gerrard said, "Congratulations to Al Hilal for the win, but at certain moments in the match, we were capable of making a difference."

He added: "We are not happy with the result, but I am proud of the performance the players showed, despite the harsh referee decisions, especially regarding Al Hilal's first and third goals."

Gerrard also acknowledged the challenges his team is facing, stating, "I don’t want to make excuses, but we are under a lot of pressure in our matches. We must take responsibility and continue to correct our mistakes."

When asked about the injury to his player AbduleIlah Al Malki, Gerrard replied, "He has proven himself, and I am saddened by his injury to the quadriceps muscle."

He continued, "I know the team’s recent results haven’t been good, but I don’t believe I’ve reached the point of being dismissed."

Gerrard concluded by commenting on the players' situation: "Once some of the injured players return, we can improve our position. We have issues in both defensive and attacking aspects, and we all need to unite to resolve them."