Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Steven Gerrard, the coach of Al Ettifaq, expressed satisfaction with his team's hard-earned 1-0 victory over Al Shabab, despite several players not being fully prepared from a technical standpoint.

The match, part of the opening round of the Saudi Pro League, saw Al Ettifaq secure all three points.

In the post-match press conference, Gerrard highlighted the tough playing conditions. "The high temperature and long grass affected our performance, but I'm pleased with the win, especially considering many of our players were not at peak physical fitness," he said.

Gerrard emphasized the importance of the result. "This victory is crucial. As the weather improves and the team reaches full fitness, we'll see a much stronger side, one that will be ruthless on the pitch. We had opportunities today and transitions where we could have scored, but we're waiting for the team to reach top form."

The English coach also praised his team's defensive efforts. "I don't want to delve too much into player changes, but our entire backline was local, and they performed excellently. We kept our first clean sheet with our new goalkeeper, which is a significant achievement."