Espen Eskas and his team, with assistant referees Jan Erik Engan and Isaak Elias Bashevkin and fourth referee Rohit Saggi, had a brilliant end to the season on Tuesday evening. The decisive Champions League match between football giants Manchester United and Bayern Munich was refereed in a very steady manner. “Both personally and for the team, this was a fantastic way to end the season. You don't get a bigger stage and setting than that. We are very humble when it comes to the task and at the same time proud of the achievements that we have had this year, and in the match yesterday”, says Eskas. He talks about a lot of good feedback after the match, which ended with 1-0 to the visitors from Germany. “We knew it could potentially be a difficult match, but we made good preparations and knew what we were going for. We were prepared for several types of scenarios and felt we were very good at the beginning to the game and how we solved it. It also showed the development of the match, as everyone bought into what we were doing. Then you gain trust, he says. Then of course there are things to learn and take with you for further development, but we are building on this”, he continues. The match at Old Trafford capped off a brilliant season for the team, with matches at several major venues. “Now we have been allowed to present ourselves on the top stage. Who would have thought that we got to referee at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, the Stadio Olimpico in Rome and Old Trafford in the space of one year. It is fantastic. Now we have to establish ourselves at the level and show that we can be permanent fixtures and a refereeing team that UEFA can trust”, says Eskas.
This summer they refereed the final of the Euro U-21 and recently they also got the chance in the U-17 World Cup. There they managed the opening match of the host nation Indonesia, the big match between Brazil and Argentina, and not least the final between France and Germany. “It was surreal. Coming down to another part of the world, with a climate we are not used to and special conditions. It was "only" U-17, but a World Cup is big in itself. We are also incredibly humbled that UEFA and FIFA have faith in us. Then it was about being present and seizing the opportunities that were given. We apparently did that since we got the final, and it ended up being a fantastic experience there too”, he sums up. “Tournament life is something special. In a match like yesterday, we travel there, referee and go back home within three days, while in a tournament you stay over a month and don't know if you will get more matches. You live a bit in uncertainty for a longer period. Being in that competitive situation is also special and requires a lot mentally, both yourself and as a team. We managed to master that in a good way, and we are incredibly proud that we got the opportunity in a final. It shows that the team is doing something right”, continues the referee.
The 35-year-old hopes the 2023 season can contribute to further development next year and points out that nothing comes of itself. “The season has exceeded all expectations. We have opened doors that were closed before the season. It is inspiring for us and for the entire group of referees in Norway, and I hope that we and the whole of referees in Norway can build on this and give hopes for 2024. Then we must still stay focused, prepare well, and do the groundwork. There is no reason to take off, we have a lot of work to do to take new steps. However, that job is easier with so many good experiences behind it.” On Wednesday afternoon, they returned home from Manchester for a long-awaited holiday after a long season. “It will be lovely to have a holiday now, and I have to mention those who are at home for us. They are there on a daily basis, support us 100% and help us to stick with refereeing. It largely contributes to us being able to perform as we do, so all credit to them”, concludes Eskas.
Source: NFF