Miloš Previews Emotional Return to Former Club Al Wasl

Sharjah's Serbian coach Miloš Milojević faces his former club Al Wasl this Thursday in what promises to be both a personal milestone and a crucial test for his struggling team. With Sharjah's disappointing start to the ADNOC Pro League season, every point matters as they travel to Dubai's Zabeel Stadium for the fifth round of matches.

The matchup carries extra weight for Milojević, who previously coached Al Wasl before joining Sharjah. But he's keeping things professional about the reunion. "This match isn't between Miloš and Al Wasl - it's between Sharjah and Al Wasl," he said during Tuesday's pre-match press conference. "I have beautiful memories there, but we've each moved on our separate paths. I'm focused on giving my best with my current team."

Sharjah's slow start to the season has put pressure on the team to collect points wherever possible. The club's early performances haven't matched expectations, making away fixtures like this one against a strong opponent even more challenging.

Injuries have complicated Milojević's preparations, though he's not using that as an excuse. Some players might return to action, with final decisions coming after Tuesday's training session. "We don't look for excuses because of the many injuries," he explained. "We have a good group of players who gained experience from last season and have high quality. Of course, missing influential players reduces options, but what's required is finding solutions, not making excuses."

Playing away from home adds another layer of difficulty. Al Wasl will have home advantage at their own stadium, and Milojević knows his team needs to reach peak performance to get a result. The Serbian coach emphasized that his focus remains on maximizing his current squad's potential rather than dwelling on what might have been with a fully fit roster.

For Sharjah supporters, this match represents an early test of whether their team can turn around what's been a frustrating start to the campaign. With the ADNOC Pro League's competitive nature, teams that fall behind early often struggle to catch up later in the season.