The Chilean judge, who made an excellent presentation in the definition between Italy and Argentina, which was awarded to the trans-Andeans, remembers his performance at Wembley and appreciates the respect he received from personalities with which he shared the legendary English stage.
Piero Maza is remarkably happy. He tries to hide it and impose reason in his words, but it feels like he’s enjoying his finest moment in refereeing. The Chilean judge has just led the Finalissima between Italy and Argentina, which resulted in a victory for the Albiceleste team, which justified the title of champion of America against the team that dominated the Europe last season. There he had to dispense justice among great personalities and in the midst of peculiar circumstances. In the draw, for example, it was with Lionel Messi and with Giorgio Chiellini, who was playing his last match with Azurra. He complied without hesitation. Now, in a dialogue with El Deportivo, while preparing his return to Chile, he takes stock of the experience.
He prefers to take advantage of it and, in fact, not infect him with recent but more controversial situations, such as when Javier Castrilli put him on the list of dismissed judges. “Now is not the time to answer these questions. “, he apologizes.
How did the game take the game, due to the importance it had and the numbers involved, starting with the fact that in the draw it already coincided with Messi and Chiellini?
The truth is that we take this designation with great joy and always with the same measure. With the desire to do things well, in the best way, in order to restore the trust of those who have appointed us. At all times, the respect for the players and the captains, Messi and Chiellini, was visible. I was very satisfied with this appointment.
Can you give an update on your mission? What were your main successes and if you made any mistakes?
The balance is of course positive, being a game of such importance and scope. It’s a Finalissima, a world classic. For us, it was a nice challenge, a good approach to what we could do. In this sense, the balance sheet will always be positive. And, of course, there will always be aspects that we referees always need to improve, which are our more technical issues, like pitches, positions, positioning on the pitch, but that’s more positive than negative. Which makes me happy.
Is it easier to manage players of this level? Do they collaborate more with judges?
I was accompanied by a team of referees, made up of Christian Schiemann and Claudio Ríos and Jesús Gil Manzano, a prominent referee in Spain and UEFA, as well as Alejandro Hernández. Performance had to be optimal. That’s how we plan it, that’s how we work it. And the truth is that yes, there was a lot of respect from both teams. They dedicated themselves to the game and it also helped us a lot so that they talk about an intense and well-played game, entertaining and not that the referees are the protagonists, which we never want.
“It was a surprise”
In Chile, his appointment for the Finalissima created a surprise. There was even strangeness, did you perceive it, how did you experience it?
The truth is that yes. And I, to be frank, also took it with great surprise. With great joy, the same. We always see very well evaluated and trained referees at the South American and world level. It was a designation of Conmebol and UEFA. So yes, it was a surprise. The date was there, so I had no choice but to repay the trust. It was a great opportunity to do a good job and I think we did it, not personally, because there is a great team behind it, including the Conmebol teachers, who are also very supportive.
Is your appetite whetted? What do you dream of achieving after this Finalissima?
The truth is that, even if it sounds like a cliché phrase, I consider all appointments very important, because you never know when the last match will be. So today I had to direct a final between Italy and Argentina, of a world classic character, but I always try to take any designation in the best way, in the most more professional. Even though this game got attention because the whole world was going to watch it, at the local and South American level I try to take it the same way, that’s the approach I try to give to my matches. I will always continue in the line of balance and humility. When we talk about refereeing, we also talk about people, simplicity, quality of the human being. So not because I failed at some point, I’m the worst or because I led a final, I’m the best. I’m still the same, one more referee, who has to keep training day after day to be able to achieve something.
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Source: Latercera
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
