Gil Manzano on the whistle: A worrying classic for Atleti
Atlético de Madrid will close their participation in LaLiga facing Girona, a match that will be refereed by Jesús Gil Manzano. This designation has generated some concern in the rojiblanco club, given the history of the referee from Extremadura with the team.
Throughout 37 matches directed, Gil Manzano has shown a total of eight red cards to Atlético players, a statistic that fuels the controversy. One of the most remembered incidents was the expulsion of Ángel Correa in the derby against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, a decision that generated strong criticism from the Atlético’s Team Manager, Tomás Reñones.
Reñones regretted that this type of situations are becoming habitual with this referee. Reviewing the history, Gil Manzano also expelled Joao Félix in 2021 and Diego Costa in 2019, the latter for insults during a crucial match against Barcelona at the Camp Nou.
In 2017, Carrasco also saw red in a Copa clash against Barcelona. However, the most bitter memory dates back to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey in 2015, where Gabi was sent off with a straight red and Mario Suárez for a double yellow, in a match marked by the frustration that led Arda Turan to throw a boot at the linesman. In total, under the direction of Gil Manzano, Atlético accumulates 18 wins, 8 draws and 11 losses, with an average of 2.7 yellow cards per game.
