Nikola Milutinov: Real Madrid Have Great Class and Can Surprise You in Many Ways

One of the stars of Olympiacos, Serbian center Nikola Milutinov, shared his expectations for the EuroLeague final taking place this weekend, where the "red-whites" from Piraeus will face Real Madrid.

Expectations for a High-Stakes Match

- Final against Real Madrid. What do you expect from this massive duel?

- First and foremost, I expect a very tough game because they are a team with a lot of experience. An opponent who knows how to play in big games. It won't be easy. They have great class, even with some absences in their lineup. They can surprise you in many ways. We really need to be ready for the game tomorrow. Mentally, physically... to play the best basketball we are capable of and to do the best we can if we want to win.

Impact of Absences

- Talking about absences - how do you think this will impact the game from your perspective? Because currently, they don't have a true center in their lineup.

- They will probably try to do some different things to their advantage. They will likely play at a faster tempo. They will try to have more possessions. They will look for something different, so we really need to be prepared for everything and nothing should surprise us.

- What will be the main key to victory tomorrow?

- The same as it was yesterday - our energy, our behavior in defense, and the way we presented ourselves on the court from the first to the last minute. We need to put in all our energy and play the game in the best possible way in defense because defense is the most valuable thing in the Final Four.

Photos: Imago