Well, I was out of work in England.
I was analysing different leagues to see if there was any potential opportunities.
I was looking for something different.
Yet, in fact, opportunity was exciting for me.
Steven Gerrard is a legend in football.
He wrote history.
And we want to make sure that Steven Gerrard also writes history again by reaching an agreement with the championships and leagues.
There's no getting away from it that this is a huge challenge.
Gerrard won everything at Liverpool.
He's won the Premier League, he's won the Champions League.
one of the most important names in Liverpool.
My job is to try and attract big names.
Jordan Henderson has had a wonderful career.
He's a fabulous player.
I want to make the league better.
He's grown all the time and hopefully that just continues.
We started the season extremely well.
Has Henderson had enough of growing the game in Saudi Arabia?
Although he wasn't happy, he was shocked when we found out that he wanted to move.
Only six months after leaving Liverpool, Jordan Henderson is now officially an Ajax player.
I accept the responsibility.
The first six months have been the most challenging I've experienced in football.
Al-Ittifaq has the best football team in the Middle East.
It's one of the best clubs in Saudi Arabia.
This is the first club in Saudi Arabia to play without a defeat.
But Al-Ittifaq is no longer the same.
It has fans, it has managers, it has fans who hope for Al-Ittifaq to return.
My name is Samer Al-Mashal and I'm the president of the club's board of directors.
We need to win championships and return to the stadium.
This is what the club deserves.
My name is Hatem Al-Mashal and I'm the president of the quarter-footers' club.
My brother, Samer, is the club's president.
Everybody understands the economic strength of the BIF clubs, which are Al-Ali, Al-Ittihad, Al-Nasser, and Al-Hilal.
With PAF, it's different.
They have a different kind of control on these clubs.
Sometimes it's easier for these clubs to go and negotiate in a faster way for bigger players.
Al Etifak, they wanted to complete some signing, to do some signing, but sometimes it was not that fast, so this was probably one of the problems they had.
Etifak, because it's one of the yet-to-be-privatized clubs, they are outside of that economic strength.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is chair of the PIS, which has an estimated value of more than $776 billion in assets.
It has the money to sign any player it wants.
Prince bin Salman said he doesn't care if people call what the country is doing sports-washing.
Saudi is a country that says it's been looking to diversify its economy away from oil, and has seen the value of sport.
The balances between the agreement and India are far apart.
But the hopes didn't fade, the dreams didn't end.
The agreement is still there.
They dream of returning to an agreement that is the hero of the Saudi Cup.
Our goal is clear.
We want to build a team that is constantly competitive.
To prove that we are true to our ambitions, we have to end the first season in one of the top six.
Last summer, we were thinking about how we could attract the great players of the League.
At that moment, we were introduced to Steven Gerrard as a coach.
My name is Steven Gerrard, ex-professional footballer for Liverpool, England, LA Galaxy.
And the highlight of my career was probably winning the European Cup for Liverpool in 2005.
The timing just coincided with me being out of the game and looking for my next opportunity.
It's a very tough challenge.
But for me in football, the size of the challenge and the pressure and the responsibility, that's something that excites me.
It's something that I want to really get my teeth into and try and make a difference.
That's why I wanted to join.
Go around the pole.
Drop your hips.
I think it was an opportunity for Gerrard in a difficult moment for him, probably, after some opportunities he had in Europe, probably, that was not working as he was hoping.
So to have the opportunity to try something completely new was probably the best opportunity for him also to develop as a manager and to try something different.
I think it was a win-win deal for Gerrard to develop in Saudi and for the Saudi Pro League to have a big, big face in the world of football like Steven Gerrard.
I'm talking about changes.
No, honestly, I don't think he scared me with that.
On the contrary, it made me very happy to be competitive in training.
It's all for the team's benefit.
Come on!
The level became higher as a Saudi player.
You have to deal with it and get used to it.
The management of the agreement and Stephen Girard did a great job in the summer.
When he worked with Jack Henry, Gray, when he worked with Jordan Henderson, Ginaldum.
One thing I respect from our manager is honesty, and I'm confident playing under him.
I feel that he values me.
And for the boys that are from Saudi, I think it's excellent for them as well.
We inherited a team that were basically a mid-table team.
The challenge is a lot bigger for me than the PIF teams and other teams that are around our level and below.
But that's football, this is the reality.
We started the season well, but consistency dropped, results dropped.
Ashraf in front of Paul and Victor.
Oh my God!
Even under pressure he plays like this.
Oh my God!
We found ourselves falling down the league.
I'm not going to sit here now and say everything's going to be perfect and rosy.
It'll still be a journey of ups and downs.
The last 10 games we played, we won one game, so where is it if I go, especially that teams below us are catching up?
I'm very much aware of the results and our form.
We need to make a lot of changes to make this team more competitive.
We haven't had people step forward to create goals for us or score goals.
This was a team and a squad when I arrived that needed a massive overhaul of players.
That is a building job, that takes time.
When you get asked questions in the media, you have an option to lie, to deflect.
I don't want to be that person.
I want to be honest.
I want to be upfront.
If he fails to reach a target in Saudi Arabia, then it will be a name marked with the tag of, he's not good enough.
People from the outside can add as much pressure on my shoulders as they want.
I don't take any notice of it.
I never did as a player.
I don't as a coach.
I think if you do and you feel that pressure, you're in the wrong role.
We made it clear from the start that the goal is not to be in the top six.
It's unacceptable to be in lower places or in places where survival is at stake.
How's things?
Very good.
All good.
The results were maybe worse than what we were expecting.
We need to recruit myself and I'm sure Marky Brees, but we need wholesale change.
We are committed to inject more players in the transfer window.
I want you to win something with this club.
We will not accept bad results.
We appreciate the support from yourself and the management team.
What are you doing?
By you, Ronaldo, or Messi?
Messi.
Messi?
Oh, definitely.
That's not Messi, doesn't miss.
On the outside, people have a perception of Saudi, but me and my family are finding the experience really enjoyable.
Absolutely love it.
Some goalie, aren't I?
You haven't scored yet.
You think he's a goalie, but he's not.
You think he's Alisson, don't you?
Too much power.
You make a decision so big and you're taking on such a big challenge.
Top bins.
You need your family here, you know.
They don't understand the pressures and the responsibility, really, of my job and my role, so I try and obviously not take that home.
Put your arms on, then.
Wrists like chocolate.
Ready?
Oh, good save!
Loved that one.
About time you turned up.
Gerrard came to the team with negative results.
In addition to that, to change all this number, he needs to be stable.
But Gerrard didn't put his finger on the team until now.
We can't leave it to emotions and reactions.
The contract extension was certainly a big show of faith from the club.
There was no hesitation in terms of my commitment and my loyalty.
Now we need a change, a big change.
I'm Gini Rijnaldum.
I'm a midfielder.
I like to fuck.
I won the league in Holland, and in France, and in England, and Liverpool.
I won the league, Super Cup, and Champions League.
I think it was clear after Jordan left who was gonna be our captain.
When I spoke with Stevie, he explained that I will be the captain.
I'm not really a person that say, like, I would like to be a leader.
I'm just a person who try to be myself and try to help the team going forward.
You have to grow together as a team.
It's not something that you can do in one day.
Step by step, you just have to make changes and try to turn it around.
The January transfer window is a window that you use to fix things.
The signing of players involves a lot of people, and I'm one of the people at the helm of this process.
We are not bringing any players, OK?
Don't ask.
whether it's trying to convince the player to come or just being part of advising on what I think the value of the player is.
He called me saying, Guido, I need to double the number.
It's generally regarded as a very difficult period.
And the reason for that is there's so many things riding on it, and nobody wants to quickly, you know, show their hands.
Give me five minutes, and then I'll call you back.
You will play with Ronaldo, Mane, Brozovic, the bunch of champions.
So Saudi now is a great opportunity.
Salaam.
Welcome, welcome.
It's not because Hatem and my brother deserve what others don't.
How's it going?
The scouting department is looking for local and foreign players.
It's easier to say we want the contract to go back to the 80s, but it's a risk.
We need work.
We want to tighten up a bit.
But this year, we want to win six titles.
We don't have an excuse.
Honestly, we don't have an excuse.
It's special to work with your brother, but Samer puts you under a lot of pressure.
A lot of pressure.
It's true.
He's my brother, but he's only a year old.
I don't know what he's doing.
If he doesn't prove himself, we'll have to see.
It's going well.
As soon as we get approval,
Fafana, Profile, Power, the destroyer type midfielder.
I had a discussion with the president.
He explained to me the club's expectations, how much they wanted me, and I was convinced.
If you've got Fafana and you've got Gini Wijnaldum and you like to play a midfield three, you have to get the right component that's going to have the right blend and balance within that.
So we're looking for a magician.
Alvaro Maduran is the number one target for the team.
Someone who's creative, has a range of passion, who's clever, who's bright.
Come on, Kamal.
Will you do it?
Done.
There was a lot of excitement in the competition with Alvaro Maduran, a former player in Real Madrid.
He had an experience in Saudi Arabia.
He also competed with him in a direct competition at the club.
Why don't you leave him alone for five minutes?
Alvaro will be the missing piece.
Now we believe we've got the right blend in midfield.
I'll let you be here.
I'll leave you be while you're here.
Good to see you.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
You've been waiting for this guy a very long time.
Thank you.
Finally here.
He won one of the main reasons that I joined.
Having him as a coach, knowing about his career as a football player is amazing.
We've had to raise money and raise funds to be able to be proactive in this window.
And along with a lot of hard work with Mr. Hattem and Sammy and myself, we had a very successful window, but it wasn't easy.
But I'm extremely confident we have got a better team.
I'm still confident we can finish in the top six.
That's my prediction.
After the closure of the transfer market, will the agreement be able to strengthen its ranks with new players and break the series of defeats against its local rivals, the Gulf Club?
Alfar and Medran were the focus of the success of the Cooperation Club.
Today, the agreement has entered, it will add to the agreement.
I think Alfa's artistic value is greater than Jordan Henderson's.
It's back to Vinaldum.
The ball bounces back.
Khatib Negre!
Vinaldum!
Goal!
The new captain, Gini Vinaldum, makes the score 1-0.
Alvaro Medran.
The second goal.
This is a decisive pass from Medran.
And in the first appearance of the match.
A strong challenge from Salem to Alvaro Medran.
It doesn't look good.
Morning.
How's it going?
How's that?
You OK?
Was it like walking today?
I feel I've been reached.
I still feel pain.
Next, we play Al-Halal, which will be the acid test to see where we are, but Alvaro Medran, he has got an injury we need to continue to work on.
Will Alvaro play?
Who knows?
Gerrard came to the team not as a result or as an artist.
Gerrard used to come out of every game and say that the list of players doesn't help.
I think it's not just about the players.
Some of the problems we faced with the infrastructure in the beginning, we paid the price, let's say, for the bad phase that the team went through in the first round.
The team's development with Steven Gerrard is clear.
The team, thank God, to a lesser extent, is a better center than last season.
The facilities is a really important part of being a top football player.
It was, I don't want to say a big shock for me when I came, but it was something that I was like, that has to change quick.
I think this is one of the biggest improvements we have here.
It's a dressing room, much bigger dressing room.
The setup is also great.
The standard where I come from is that the facilities are there for you to recover as good as possible.
Basically, this is a recovery room.
We have five ice baths.
We have a pool now.
That's also a big improvement since I came.
As you see, the gym.
It's a really good gym.
Big, good equipment.
Before, it was small.
Bit by bit, step by step, we improved the gym a lot.
I think the preparation towards the training or preparation towards the game is really important.
We have a big game coming up against Hilal.
Hilal didn't lose a game until now, so it's going to be a really difficult one.
Hilal, who didn't lose a game, reaches the finish line to face the Alliance.
Al-Halal are the benchmark.
They're the ones that we're all hunting down.
That's the challenge this evening.
The players are ready.
Now they just gotta go and execute the game plan.
Okay?
Thank you.
Have a good one.
Fortunately, Alvaro Medran's back in the team.
The better the opponent, the bigger the challenge.
But we prepared well.
When we start the first shot, will the Crescent take another step towards securing the title?
Or will the agreement offer a special performance to end the Crescent without a defeat?
A great pass, and a great pass from Koulibaly.
He passes to Victor.
Victor scores!
Amazing, Victor!
Amazing, amazing, amazing!
Tempeli is leading!
What a chance!
Oh, my God, Koulibaly!
Oh, my God, what a save!
There is no way back.
The agreement is good as far as it goes.
Koulibaly!
He is a rock in the middle of the defense of the crescent.
A corner kick, goal!
1-0 to the Crescent.
A header by Sabech.
The agreement will regret the missed chances now.
Al-Dawsari in front of the goal.
0-0 to Al-Hilal.
The agreement is now on them.
The final whistle.
Al-Hilal wins away from home.
There were moments of agreement, but in general, Al-Hilal was tough and still undefeated.
The fans, they're not happy?
Yeah.
Nobody's happy if we lose.
Yeah, we will continue working as a group and I'm pretty sure, I'm confident in the team that the points will come.
Thank you.
Great.
Another great performance by Calido Kuliban.
When the supporters shout your name, it's a very nice feeling.
This game against Etifak was a tough game, but we won it, and I'm happy for the contribution I give to the team, and I hope that we will continue to make them happy and to be unbeaten until the end of the season.
When we moved to Saudi Arabia, the fact that we are in a Muslim country helped me a lot.
For me, for my family,
It makes me feel special, and when you feel special somewhere, you want to stay a long time, and I want really to stay a long time in Gilad.
Being Muslim is more easy, more easy than in Europe, because we have a lot of help.
The schedule of the team, I have always time to pray.
They make always the time for God, so it's more easier for us here.
Ramadan is coming in Europe.
I had a lot of help.
I was lucky with this, but I'm more lucky here because you can see that the schedule is made for us to be more easy.
The training after the iftar, after the night, so it will be easier for us.
So I'm really happy to be here.
Everything is on the line tonight for Steven Gerrard and the Alliance.
The team is trying to secure a place in the top six.
The only hope is the defeat of the home team, which seems to be in its best condition in tonight's match.
Today's match is tough.
It's tough for the team.
No, no, no, it's okay.
But they're our kids, God willing.
They'll win, God willing.
God willing, the coach will make a plan for them, God willing.
He'll make a good plan for them.
It's going to be a tough game, honestly, in front of my family.
I'm paying close attention to the fans.
They love the club a lot.
They're passionate.
And I think they deserve, at least, to win a championship.
We wanted to improve on our position in the league, to show progress.
and I get judged on how I do against the top teams.
It's important for us to perform well against teams like Alali, because we know it's a team in the top four.
I think that with the quality of our group, we have to try every day to fight with the best of this championship.
Let's go!
We'll do our best.
We'll
As a spectator, I watch the match and I hope to see that the manager has a duty, which is me.
Watching the match and following it as a supporter and also as a manager is very difficult.
He's trying to play the ball to the left.
He gets it to the left.
Maximal.
Once again, from the corner, Ali Yasmin.
He gets the ball to a nice spot.
It's beautiful.
It's beautiful for Riyad.
Goal!
To play with Gini and Alvaro in the midfield, they are great players.
We know their quality, so nothing is impossible for me.
The players done fantastic to get ourselves in a positive place at halftime.
At halftime, we have to take Seko out.
When your big players are not available, that doesn't help.
You have to manage these situations.
Oh, my God.
These guys... These guys are amazing.
Ali is also one of the leaders of this team.
I think he's a great player.
He brings us a lot of experience.
We have very talented players who have improved their level of play.
Ali has a shot.
He shoots from the far left.
Oh, my God!
Al-Farouk runs, passes the ball to Abdulrahman Al-Aboud.
Al-Aboud is in a different position.
He passes the ball to Amamgol.
To Amamgol!
Goal!
Was there an offside?
No, there was no offside.
No offside.
Can he keep it going?
Oh!
At 2-1, we had a lot of good attacks.
We just needed the last bit of quality.
The last bit of ruthlessness.
To go and get 3-1.
Making the right decisions when you're tired.
I'm not killing the game off.
We paid the price.
I'm happy with a lot of things, but I'm also frustrated and disappointed in some things as well.
We knew it was going to take a period of time to build.
It's not going to be a daily, a weekly, a monthly fix.
This was going to be a period of time and a process.
I accept the responsibility and the pressure of delivering results.
The success of this project is very, very important for the future of the club.
Look and play forward.
We made it clear from the start that the goal is not to be among the top six.
We are more competitive, we have more quality, and I believe we'll finish strong this season.
We're not going to go away quietly, we're going to keep pushing.
Everything seemed to be perfect.
Suddenly, Robert Firmino didn't score any goals.
The coach, Isley, is on fire!
He's got the ball in his head and he's attacking.
I think any Saudi player will be able to play against us.
Did you hear his speech?
It was amazing.