Alain Roche, former player (223 matches for PSG between 1992 and 1998) and director of Paris Saint-Germain, was invited by L’Equipe to comment on Willian Pacho’s adaptation since his arrival in the summer of 2024 from Eintracht Frankfurt. He considers him the best Parisian signing of that period, but is holding back before declaring him the club’s “best defender in history.” This ranking is the subject of the sports daily’s article.
Roche: “He has that aggression, but without committing fouls.”
“He arrived in a favorable context, certainly, but his ability to adapt is quite astonishing. He’s the biggest success of PSG’s recruitment in the last eighteen months. In the first few matches, you might have thought there would be a lack of speed, but not at all. He’s clever, he knows how to position himself, he exudes immense natural strength. And you see the difference when he’s there or not.” I remember a Ligue 1 match last year where he came on and immediately, the balance of power shifted dramatically in his favor. He didn’t overdo it; he was incredibly composed. He had that aggression, but without committing fouls.
Roche: “Let’s give him more time, maybe another two years, to become the best.”
This debate about historical hierarchy is always complicated because the contexts are so different. But when you win the Champions League, you’re inevitably among the best. What he’s been doing at PSG for the last eighteen months is exceptional. However, today, the legacy left by someone like Marquinhos, who’s been there for twelve years, or Thiago Silva, who stayed for eight, is greater. Marquinhos is number one because of his loyalty and consistency. Thiago Silva, on the other hand, is pure class, a defender of great elegance. And Pacho, it’s the sheer force he exudes that’s exceptional. Today, he’s among the best in the club’s history. Let’s give him more time, maybe another two years, to become the very best.
Of course, playing for this PSG has its advantages. It’s full of great players and has built an impressive team. However, you also need great qualities to be able to compete at that level and demonstrate a certain tactical intelligence to adapt to coach Luis Enrique’s unique style of play. Being able to adapt so quickly is a real achievement.
Pacho has even improved, particularly in his defensive positioning and ball control. He sometimes seemed hesitant in his distribution, but that’s disappeared. He’s still not the type to “create” chances. But he performs flawlessly and allows PSG to play with composure. His defensive contribution is also significant, as he covers very well and never panics. There are still a few things to work out regarding his finishing, as he gets caught out on a few occasions.
By addressing these issues—and it’s understandable to have areas for improvement at 24—he can further establish himself as the best player in PSG’s history or the current number one in the world. This kind of debate is, in any case, very complicated. It’s difficult to be objective when you have an affection for the players of a club you love. But Pacho is among the world’s best; that much seems quite certain.
Roche can also consider him one of the transfer window’s biggest successes, of course. Even though there’s stiff competition, particularly from João Neves, a 21-year-old midfielder who has also adapted very quickly and is clearly among the elite. But Pacho was a bit less expensive and was relatively unknown in France before signing.
