Lion City Sailors head coach Aleksandar Ranković has called the upcoming AFC Champions League Two 2024/25 final against Sharjah FC.
The Singaporean club will go head-to-head with the UAE powerhouse in what promises to be a pulsating finale between two sides hungry for regional glory. For Ranković, facing a team of Sharjah’s calibre is not an intimidation — it’s an opportunity.
“Sharjah are a team with not just quality on the pitch, but also a strong winning mentality,” said the Serbian tactician, fondly known as Ranko.
“They’ve shown time and again they can grind out results — be it through late goals or penalty shootouts. They’re physical, no doubt, but we’ve faced teams like that before in this competition. We are ready for anyone.”
Sharjah, under the stewardship of Romanian veteran Cosmin Olăroiu, are anything but newcomers to high-pressure encounters. One of the Gulf region’s most decorated coaches, Olăroiu’s resume speaks volumes: four UAE Pro League titles, five UAE Super Cups, two League Cups, two President’s Cups, as well as top-flight triumphs in Romania, China, and Saudi Arabia.
Since taking the helm, Olăroiu has turned Sharjah into a formidable continental unit, losing just two of their last 12 ACL Two matches — a run defined by tactical discipline and mental resilience.
Despite Sharjah’s pedigree, Sailors skipper Hariss Harun remains unfazed. A seasoned campaigner himself, Hariss stressed that form and history are irrelevant in finals.
“When it comes to finals, form goes out the window,” said the former Johor Darul Ta’zim midfielder.
“We can talk about how well they’ve played, or how well we’ve played, but it doesn’t matter. In games like this, there are no favourites. It all comes down to who wants it more on the day.”
Credit Photo : LCS
