Ukrainian referee Mykola Balakin recalled his work at the Champions League match between Real Sociedad and Salzburg in November 2023. He became the first Ukrainian since 1998 to officiate a group stage game in the Champions League. He spoke about this in an interview with the YouTube channel "Bombardir".
«You couldn't show your nervousness, we set ourselves up like that. After the game, my assistant said: "Was this the Champions League"? I said: "Yes — it's an ordinary game, like in the region".
When 60,000 sing, the Champions League anthem is not so clearly heard. You understand that you watched the Champions League as a child, but there is responsibility. Emotions are emotions, but a cool head is needed and let's go. For a couple of seconds, yes, we are here, yes, everyone is watching us. It was a very intense game, the pace is different and the speed of thinking of the footballers.
We have four training sessions a week plus a game. Now the referees' committee has introduced a new test for us, so it's work almost every day.
I remember during the match of the French national team, Griezmann really impressed me. In that match, Giroud was still playing, and I remember how the assistant told me: "Did you feel the atmosphere of the Stade de France?" And I told him: "I couldn't take my head off the field because they play so fast, these diagonals," said Balakin.