DUBAI — Coach Cosmin Olaroiu insists he is fully focused on guiding Al-Ahli of the United Arab Emirates to a famous AFC Champions League victory against Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal despite his “special relationship” with his former employers ahead of Tuesday's semifinal first leg at King Fahd International Stadium. Goals from Brazilian Rodrigo Lima and captain Ahmed Khalil saw Al-Ahli defeat Iran's Naft Tehran 3-1 on aggregate in the quarterfinals to mark its first appearance in the semifinals. And after Al-Hilal defeated Qatar's Lekhwiya 6-3 on aggregate in its quarterfinal, former Saudi Arabia coach Olaroiu will now face the side he guided to the Saudi league title in 2008. “I know them, they know me. We have a special relationship, but the game is the game,” said Romanian Olaroiu, who took over at Ahli in July 2013 after spells at Al-Ain of the UAE and in Qatar with Al-Sadd that followed his departure from Al Hilal in 2009. “They have the pressure of the public and they have a lot of supporters. When you play in the league or the Champions League, psychology is important and, it is just as important as the physical side and it's part of our job and we have to take this into consideration. “At this point in the competition nobody is superior to anybody. Whoever performs better in the match will qualify for the final.” The return game in Dubai on Oct. 20. The winner of the tie will meet either Chinese Guangzhou Evergrande of Japan's Gamba Osaka in the final in November. Former World Cup-winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari wants Guangzhou Evergrande to seize the initiative when it hosts Gamba Osaka in the first leg of the AFC Champions League semifinal Wednesday. Scolari, who led Brazil to victory at the 2002 World Cup, has revived the fortunes of the Chinese champion since replacing Italian Fabio Cannavaro as head coach in June. Evergrande is unbeaten in its last 16 competitive matches and lead the Chinese Super League by two points after a 3-2 comeback win over Guizhou Renhe Saturday sealed by Paulinho's injury-time winner created by fellow Brazilian superstar import Robinho. Evergrande eliminated Japan's Kashiwa Reysol 4-2 on aggregate in the quarterfinals and Scolari wants no let-up in its quest to lift the Asian club title for the second time in three seasons. "Every second on the field is going to be important in the game Wednesday," said Scolari in the build-up to the first leg at Tianhe Stadium in the southern Chinese metropolis. "We have to try to avoid conceding a goal and ensure we play the second leg with a larger advantage. Gamba are a tough team, their manager Kenta Hasegawa has his own style, and anything can happen in football. "The team has confidence, though, and the mood among the players is great. We are determined not to let our fans down." Champion of Asia in 2008, Gamba was in Japan's second tier when Guangzhou won AFC Champions League in 2013. It secured promotion before winning the J League, League Cup and Emperor's Cup last year. — Agencies
