The headache does not go away.
Now Alexander Milosevic comes with a bleak message.
– We’ll see how long this will take. It could take a week or so – but the season could also be over, says the AIK centre-back.
Uncertainty eats away at him.
Alexander Milosevic Not only does he have to deal with his own anxiety, but also the anxiety of so many others. Almost all AIK players are asking themselves the same question after the fatal concussion on Värnamo at the end of July: “When can he start playing again?”.
– These questions come up all the time. You get a lot of support from loved ones and supporters, but also this most annoying question. “How do you feel about it? When will you be back?” My honest answer? I don’t know. I really do not know.
“What will the doctors say?”
Milosevic was in a good mood when Sportbladet met him after a long training session at Karlberg. But it is noticeable that he suffers from his inability to give a direct answer to his surroundings.
– Always next question. But what do the doctors say next? Well, what the hell would doctors say? They’re not in my head, they can’t know.
Everything is uncertain.
– I do not know anything. After having a concussion in Farnamo away, I had symptoms two or three days later. It’s not like I have concussion symptoms where I lie down and vomit or have to lie in completely dark rooms. I can also go out and meet people without problems, but I have constant headaches. Not the kind that disappears after twenty minutes, but it is constant. He’s cuddled, there all the time and he just sits in it.
So he tried to play: “I got into Bartosh”.
He can participate in the courses but withdraws when the courses include major duels or situations. Milosevic attempted to play in the first leg against the same team, Varnamo, two weeks after suffering a concussion. It didn’t work. The central defender was replaced in the first half.
How was that swap?
– It was… I did two training sessions before that match. I didn’t nod either, because it felt unnecessary, but two or three days of training felt perfect. But as soon as I played the match… I didn’t get a big headache but I didn’t feel well. I know people have written things like “How could AIK let him play?” , but… it was me who went to Bartosz (Gerzelak) the day before the match and said, “I’m going to play.” Then it is just that.
Now he is more careful. The setbacks made Milosevic think. Also disappointed by his absence from AEK’s important European qualifiers, the centre-back does not want to risk his health.
– It was hard to miss. But you read a lot about other players with serious problems after a concussion. Some have had to quit smoking. I don’t want to quit smoking yet. Then I should wait a little longer and be a little smarter. Of course it’s boring. The doctors told me that maybe I shouldn’t even go to friends and watch our games, but what can you do? AIK wants all the best. But now we’ll see how long it will take.
“I hope it doesn’t last a lifetime”
Milosevic weighs his words for some time. Then it’s as if he decided to be one hundred percent clear. Fans should not hope for or count on a quick comeback.
It may take a week or so before I feel better. But this season may be over for me.
The most important thing is not to quickly return to the field. For now, Milosevic is focused on staying healthy.
– we will see. I hope this headache doesn’t last for life.