Milutinov: “Play at our own pace – We can surprise them”

Ready to experience the “magic” of a Final Four for the third consecutive season is Olympiacos, which is preparing for the big semi-final with Real Madrid (24/05, 22:00) aiming for a place in the final.

During the training of the “red and whites”, o Nikola Milutinov talked about the difficult task of his team, about his own situation, but also about fighting with the most complete front line of Madrid.

His statements in detail:

For last year’s final: “Yes, last year I was watching the finals from my home in Serbia and it was a very difficult moment because I felt that Olympiacos played the best basketball all season most of the time and I felt that after many years this was their year. Unfortunately that didn’t happen, and this is the final four and until the last seconds you never know who will win. This year I believe that we can surprise them and if we are a team we can try to win”.

For his injury: “Yes because I think it was a tough time for me. When I got injured it was a difficult time mentally and physically so I had to try to come back and help my team.”

On the full frontline and his role: “I believe not only in my role although I know my role and I will try to do the best but we also have the other tall ones who have shown that they can play all year, you know it’s a complete roster it’s not just the tall ones the regionals are five against five. So we’ll have to play at our pace if we want to win tomorrow because if we play at Real’s pace it’s unlikely we’ll win.”