PETALING JAYA: Lebanon coach Miodrag Radulovic is on the brink of cementing his status as the ultimate "Harimau Malaya slayer" as his side gear up to face Malaysia in tomorrow's Merdeka Tournament final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
Having already masterminded two 2-1 victories over Malaysia during the 2019 Asian Cup qualifiers, Radulovic is hungry to extend his perfect record against world No. 134 Harimau Malaya.
Another victory tomorrow would be a huge feather in the cap for the Montenegrin tactician.
"The Malaysian team are different now. They have many top-class players," admitted Radulovic during today's press conference in Subang.
Despite the world No. 116 Lebanon being higher ranked, Radulovic is playing it cool, casting his team as the underdogs.
"This match is an opportunity for us to test ourselves against a formidable opponent," he added.
But it's not just Radulovic's record that gives Lebanon the edge – he's armed with a treasure trove of insider knowledge.
Lebanon players Rabih Ataya and Khalil Khamis played for Kedah and Pahang respectively in the Malaysian Super League.
And that's not all – Radulovic has also tapped into his Montenegrin countrymen, Argzim Redzovic and Adrijan Rudovic, who are plying their trade with Terengganu and KL City this season.
"I'm utilising the detailed information I've gathered from them to better understand the strengths and weaknesses of Malaysia's players," revealed Radulovic, hinting at the tactical advantage Lebanon may wield in tomorrow's showdown.
The Cedars, armed with this inside scoop, may well have the upper hand against Malaysia in what's expected to be a quieter atmosphere, with local fan clubs continuing their boycott in protest against the FA of Malaysia (FAM).
Lebanon forward Gabriel Bitar, 26, said: "Malaysia have many skilful and tactical players.
"We need to stay compact, disciplined, and solid defensively," warned Bitar, echoing his coach's sentiments as Lebanon aim to spoil Malaysia's party once again.