Spanish Super Cup final referee speaks ahead of Clasico showdown: ‘You know the responsibility you have’ | OneFootball

The name of Jesus Gil Manzano does not generate much goodwill in Catalonia as the Spanish referee has been known to make decisions against the club at critical moments in the past.

Statistically, he is the referee who has had to be corrected the most number of times since the introduction of VAR with a staggering 63 corrections.

Later tonight, it is Gil Manzano who will be officiating the Spanish Super Cup final between Barcelona and Real Madrid and one can thus expect controversy in some amount, especially given the heated atmosphere in El Clasico.

Gil Manzano speaks ahead of the final

Talking to the media (h/t Mundo Deportivo) ahead of the mega-clash, Gil Manzano touched upon a number of topics including the general attack of referees in recent times and what he looked forward to in tonight’s clash.

He began by revealing that the increase in protests against referees has brought match officials closer and more united than ever before.

“There is a tremendous group union. Let’s all go to one. All opinions are respected and heard and that gives a wealth to the important group.”

“But what gives us greatness to the group is that we all go to one, we all close ranks and go in the same direction,” he added.

Gil Manzano will be the man on the whistle tonight. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

He then expressed his disappointment in the world not showing sufficient appreciation for the changes adopted by referees in recent times to prove that they too are human.

“And to that effort, we have not seen a response from the media, institutions, clubs.”

“That effort has been made on our part and we have not obtained the appropriate response to the effort we have made to open up,” he continued.

Looking ahead to the Supercopa de Espana final later today, the match official accepted that it was a massive responsibility on his shoulders.

“Directing a final is a responsibility because there is a team that is going to get a title and the competition ends there. You know the responsibility you have in each of the decisions you are going to make.”

He also elaborated on the general excitement he had ahead of the clash, saying,

“We’ve seen how every team plays. That gives us a plus and makes us get into the atmosphere of what we can expect.”