The Conference League final will be staged this evening at 9pm Fiorentina and Olympiacos. A historic challenge not only for the two teams on the pitch but also for the match director Soares Dias. In fact, for the Portuguese referee, despite a career spanning several years, it will be the first European final for clubs. Speaking to UEFA, Dias gave an interview in view of this evening’s match at the Agia Sophia stadium in Athens: “I have worked for 28 years to reach a final as important as this: being a referee is like being a player, a final is a final and everyone dreams of being there.
It was an incredible phone call to receive as we all work hard to reach this level. My reaction was a mix of nervousness, responsibility, honor and the feeling of having made a dream come true. Of course, once the news has been absorbed, you have to stay focused because, as in every match, you need to be ready both mentally and physically. The first person I called when I heard the news was my mother, because it is an opportunity to remember my father and the advice he gave me. He was one of the reasons I became a referee and I’m sure he would be very proud of me and this achievement.”