Gil Manzano: Refereeing Lionel Messi and Griezmann is a luxury
The ref for Saturday's game was pleased to get the gig
Is an Atlético-Barcelona game a special match?
Yes of course, we are talking about two important teams at the top of the table. In addition two teams who are among the elite in Europe. It's a great opportunity to show your fitness and to prove that as a referee that you are up to the task to officiate this class of match.
This will be the first with VAR. Very different from the previous games?
The way to deal with it must be the same. When you ref with VAR you must keep making decisions and they are the same as if there were no VAR. There are small nuances that this new tool allows you to have but the nature of arbitration remains the same as if VAR did not exist. We have to keep taking decisions as referees.
You are a compulsive student for your games. How do you prepare for them?
Yes, indeed. I usually watch the last 3 or 4 more matches that both teams have played. In them, I analyse their game systems, the way they press, the tactical systems they use, the transitions when they recover the ball or the positioning of the team both when they have the ball and when they do not. Individually I also analyse how their players play. This allows me to have a better reading of the game and know how to deal with it depending on how it develops.
Reffing players like Leo Messi or Griezmann is a luxury, is it not?
It is a luxury without a doubt, as it is with any other La Liga team. Being able to ref a meeting in the Spanish league is a luxury, we have teams of a very high level and I think that being able to take a match in our country each weekend is an exclusive luxury which right now only 20 top flight referees can enjoy.
Is VAR the great revolution of today's football?
Without a doubt, we are facing the great revolution in the laws of the game. Never before has there been such a big change in the history of football.
Do you like VAR?
It’s been outstanding without a doubt. The adaptation of the referees has been very good, massively I would say. But I also think that the football players, coaches, media etc ... have accepted its arrival very well. I think that overall their acceptance is outstanding. Now all that remains is to continue working with it.
