The sides will meet at the Bishan Stadium on Sunday, with both seeking to create history on the continental stage with the Sailors aiming to become the first side from Singapore to win an Asian title while Sharjah are seeking their first international crown.

Rankovic said it was an amazing feeling to be in the final, saying his team had dreamt of it.
“To play here in our home stadium is amazing. Our preparations have been the same – nothing crazy, the players are motivated and I hope we can play a good match.
“I don’t think anyone in Singapore dreamed of us getting to the ACL final. We had the dream with the team but we only whispered about it as we didn’t have the courage to speak loud but after we advanced from the group stage, I felt that we could go to the final,” said Rankovic.

The Sailors will go into the final on a high, having lifted the Singapore Premier League title last week and having also advanced to the Singapore Cup semi-finals.
“Making the (ACLTwo) final was a target, winning the league was also a target as we had not done it in three years. It has been a long and challenging season, we have played 60, 61 matches but I don’t think my players will be under too much pressure.
“We have already made history several times this season and this is another game that we will go out and play to win.”

The Serbian tactician dispelled the notion that Sharjah will start as favourites.
“We know Sharjah are an excellent team, not only because of their quality but also their character. They went through two penalty shootouts to advance. I am also not worried about their physicality as we played Japanese, Australian teams to make the final. This will be a 50-50 match.”

Team captain Hariss Harun said the final was a perfect opportunity to show the quality of Singaporean football.
“There have been more lows than highs in recent times but the final is our chance to show that football is alive in Singapore.
“It has been a long season but when we have reached this stage, we must do all that we can to lay our hands on the trophy,” said Hariss, who lifted the AFC Cup™ with Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim in 2015.

Olaroiu, in agreeing that his side were not the favourites, said Sharjah would spare no effort in trying to win the title after having had to make numerous sacrifices to qualify for the final.
“It is an honour and privilege for us to play in the final. We are not the favourites but this is the last battle and we have come with the idea of taking the trophy.
“We have to make one more sacrifice, one more effort to win this game,” said the Romanian.

The tactician, who will take charge of the UAE national team at the end of this campaign, said his side were braced for a tough challenge from the Sailors.
“It won’t be easy, we will be playing tough opponents who are very well organised, know how to use spaces, transitions. They are a team who deserve to be in the final and we have to treat them professionally.”

Having already suffered heartbreak in the UAE Pro League and President’s Cup, Sharjah will head into the final on the back of a five-match winless run but Olaroiu said he wasn’t unduly worried about his side’s form.
“We always learn from every game we play. We have been contesting on several fronts and it was the strength of the players that took us to this final.
“We have had to manage some injuries as we wanted to be ready for the final. We also gave minutes to some players who could be called on (in the final) and this affected our overall form but no, I am not worried.”

Caio Lucas said the Sharjah players were determined to give Olaroiu a winning send off.
“We will give our best in the final as we want to give the coach the gift of the title. We will be ready,” said the winger.