Milutinov: “Olympiacos is my home, excited to play with Fal”

Very happy for his return to Olympic stated the Nikola Milutinov.

The Serbian center spoke to the official website of the “red and white” KAE, stressing that he was sure he would return to the Piraeus team, which he described as “home” of him, while he also expressed his excitement to play with him Mustafa Fal.

In detail what Nikola Milutinov stated www.olympiacosbc.gr:

Three years ago, in your statement after your agreement with CSKA Moscow, you said that this is not the end for you and Olympiakos. And you proved it. Is this how you imagined your return?

“Exactly, for me Olympiacos is my home. I didn’t know how my career would develop at CSKA Moscow, I didn’t know what I would meet there, but I was sure that one day I would return to Greece and Olympiakos. And I’m excited to be back. A lot has changed in these three years, the team has made leaps and bounds at all levels. I never stopped talking to people in the team and my old teammates and I was learning everything. And I am very happy that the team is now at this level. Olympiacos is the ideal destination for any player in Europe at the moment».

You left Olympiakos the year the team was not competing in A1, having made a historic decision. How did you experience all this and what did you receive from those around you?

“It was certainly a historic decision by Mr. Angelopoulos that essentially changed everything. The people understood from the first moment that this had to happen in order for some things to change and they embraced this decision. And everyone together, people, administration and team, managed to bring Olympiacos back to the top. In two years, the team won two championships, two Cups, one Super Cup and went to two Final Fours. The hard times have passed, after a long battle and difficult decisions and I am especially proud because I know very well how hard it has been for everyone in the team in the past years».

Now, Olympiacos will enter the new season as the double champion of Greece and finalist in the Euroleague. What are your personal goals and of course with the team.

“I want to help as much as possible to repeat last year’s magical season for the team. Coach Bartzokas has done a fantastic job. And I also want to follow his game plan and help the team as much as I can. Let’s never forget that during these two years, Olympiacos had to overcome the fact that the two biggest players in the team’s history, Spanoulis and Printezis, retired. And the management, the coach and the team, did a great job in this part as well and this transition was not only smooth, but absolutely successful».

All your years at Olympiakos you were teammates with these two Legends. Now you will enter the locker room and none of them will be there. Have you thought about what it will be like?

“It sure will be weird. Vassilis and Giorgos are two real Legends, I can call them my friends and we experienced a lot. They gave everything to the team and gave us great moments and titles. But life goes on, sports are like that, teams always go on and the imprint of some players remains, their era as we say. And I am proud and feel blessed to have lived in the era of Spanoulis and Printezis».

Do you also want to create your own era at Olympiakos?

“That would be the absolute dream for me, but these two guys are legends. Elusive. What I can say and what I want to do is to follow coach Barzoka’s plan completely and do exactly what he asks me to do to help the team reach its goals».

Many are already talking about the best tall duo in Europe. You and Mustafa Fal will be the ones filling the two rackets. What is your opinion?

“Fal had two great seasons with Olympiakos. He dominated and has become one of the best talls in Europe. I’m excited to be teammates. Now if we’re going to be the best tall duo in Europe, we’ll have to prove it with our work, words don’t do anything».