The Champions League final, a pride in Romania. Istvan Kovacs enters tonight in the history of world football

The final of the Champions League, in which PSG will face it this evening, from 10 pm, in Munich, on Inter Milan, is a pride for our country. The big match will be arbitrated by three Romanians, Istvan Kovacs, at the center, and Mihai Marica (Zalău) and Ferencz Tunyogi (Bistrița) at the two lines. They will be helped from the lime room by Piteștean Cătălin Popa, a video arbitration specialist.

Istvan Kovacs will lead the most important match of the European season. Profimedia photo

The referee in Carei will become the only one in the world to tick all three European finals: the Champions League (now), the Europa League (2024) and Conference League (2022), with the mention that in 2023 it was reserved in the last act of the most important football competition on the continent. Before the tonight match, Istvan Kovacs spoke about how he received the news that he would be at the center of the final, but also how he was preparing for the duel between Inter and PSG.

The Champions League final, the biggest possible achievement

“It was amazing to receive the call from Roberto Rosetti (no head of the UEFA referees commission). It was a very happy moment and a overwhelming sensation after so many years of work to be designated for the most important match interclubs in the world. At the beginning of each season, you dream of arbitrating a final, and the Champions League is the biggest possible achievement. I am very pleased, not only for myself, but also for my colleagues.

I would like to thank UEFA, the referee commission, the Romanian Football Federation and to all those who have supported us over time, especially my mentor, Istvan Szilagyi, and the president of CCA, Kyros Vassaras, who has done a fantastic job in the last 11 years “said Istvan Kovacs for UEFA.

Sleep before the match

The Romanian also spoke about what program he has on the day of such a match: “I usually do not take breakfast. I go with my team for a short walk for about an hour and drink a tea with a few biscuits. Around 1:00 pm I have lunch, usually chicken with pasta and salad, and then I sleep one or two hours before the match, I wake up, listen to a little music, I do a shower, then I go to the stadium.