SINGAPORE — They greeted each other like long-lost friends when arriving at the Amara Hotel to meet the media, but walked away like strangers when the event was over.

Between Oman coach Paul Le Guen and Lions boss Bernd Stange, the mind games almost boiled over yesterday as they fielded questions ahead of tonight’s Asian Football Confederation (AFC) 2015 Asian Cup Group A encounter at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

The conference started mildly enough, with Stange coolly fielding questions and conceding that the Lions were up against a side that are 60 rungs above them in the FIFA world rankings.

But the German also said there was all to play for and was optimistic his team have worked hard and will play all out to stop the Omanis. “In my short time here, I feel the boys have done very well and are motivated to play tomorrow’s match, and they are not afraid to play Oman,” he said. “We will take our chances, and I personally believe we have a chance, although it will be very difficult. But it’s an open game and we start at 0-0. We are confident, but we are not over-confident.”

The Lions’ confidence, he added, was also boosted because they were playing in front of their home fans.

Oman arrived here at the end of Ramadan and Le Guen said the month-long fasting period may affect his players’ game, just as it did in 2011 when they lost 3-0 to Thailand in the World Cup qualifiers. And despite arriving early and training on artificial pitches here, the Frenchman fears his team may not be in peak condition against Singapore.

“It is not an ideal time after Ramadan, and it takes time for the players to get used to the artificial pitch,” he said. “We can play here for months to get used to the turf, but we have a young squad that may not be able to adapt.”

He insisted the match with Singapore will be “difficult” but that Oman will remain focused to get a result.

Stange followed up with the first salvo, saying the pressure was on Oman to deliver the goods against a determined Lions side, who will go all out to “find a way to win this game”.

Said the German: “I believe Oman is under pressure because they have to win this match against an opponent that is ranked behind Afghanistan and the Maldives. We will try to do our best, although it will be difficult, but I hope we are in a good shape tomorrow to manage something.”

The demands on Le Guen in the Sultanate have been piling up after Oman were booted out of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers by Jordan in June.

Stange’s remarks looked to have hit a raw nerve and, as the session wore on, Le Guen stood up before the Singapore coach could field a question and said “we are just spectators here”. He then asked if he could leave and had to be coaxed to stay, as the media conference wrapped up in a less than convivial mood.

While Stange may have got the better of his opposite number pre-match, it remains to be seen if the wily German has more up his sleeve to produce a result when both sides troop out onto the pitch tonight.