In an interview published on the official Paris Saint-Germain website, Willian Pacho, the 24-year-old central defender for Paris Saint-Germain, spoke ahead of the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich. The Ecuadorian emphasized the strength of the team, their shared ambition, and the importance of calm leadership in big matches. He also highlighted the importance of captain and defender Marquinhos (31).
Pacho: “The truth is, we’re incredibly excited.”
On last year’s Champions League run:
It was a fantastic journey. I think the way we approached it was very positive for us, because we had some good results and some tough times—that’s football—but we managed to lead this team with a lot of responsibility.
Always contributing a lot to the team, to the group, always looking for ways to improve, and with the humility to want to win titles, because once you’ve won something, it’s very difficult to win again.
So, you always have to have that goal, that collective ambition to be able to win, and to be able to win again. And so, to be in the semi-finals now, facing Bayern Munich, who are a very difficult team, the truth is that it excites us enormously because we know the work it took to get here, and also to see the game plan we’re implementing and to always believe in ourselves.
How are you feeling?
Honestly, I feel great, I’m very happy, I feel like I’m improving every day. I’m here to learn every day, and it’s always the team that helps me a lot. Seeing how the team is, like a family, like the team we are, is what has mainly always helped me improve and grow.
Pacho: “If we always support each other, I believe it’s beneficial for us.”
Ambition?
I believe we must always keep in mind that the most important thing is the group, the team, with the same idea, the same work ethic, the same approach, with this competitive spirit that always drives us. I believe that’s what truly characterizes this team, this club, where every day we want to win, train incredibly hard, and always contribute.
Contributing to the club, to the team, is the most important thing for us, and being united like a family, because if we always support each other, I believe it’s beneficial for us.
Marquinhos?
Marqui is a truly incredible person. I believe that from my very first day, I always had his support. From the first day I arrived, that confidence too… And then, the wonderful person he is, he’s the kind of person who tells you things frankly. He doesn’t mince words, so I think that’s what really helped me to be able to help him in return, as well as the Paris defense, by having a clear idea of how I can help them.
Because if you know clearly where and how you can help, I believe that’s where you can make a very good contribution, always contributing to the team, as he has for many years. That excites me a lot too.
Pacho: “We have a very clear plan.”
Bayern?
We know it’s a difficult match; Bayern is on a very good run, but we have a very clear plan. We’ve faced them before, but every match is different, every match is played in a unique way.
So, I think we need to prepare well, keep the same mindset, believe in ourselves, stick to the style of play that has brought us this far, and prepare for the two-legged tie ahead.
Frankly, as I was saying, we must always believe in ourselves, believe in this project, believe in our way of working. Then, we need to prepare ourselves mentally, be as focused as possible, because these are matches decided by details and that’s where the difference is made.
Pacho: “Their support is going to be very important now, because they still have that passion.”
The fans?
I think that from the very first day I arrived in Paris, I felt the fans’ support, and always in the best possible way. For example, during the last match against Liverpool, when we played there, I think they were very important for our qualification, because as soon as we came onto the pitch, seeing them all in their section and hearing how they were singing, I think it gave us an incredible boost.
And their support is going to be very important now, because they still have that passion and that way of encouraging us, and I think it’s very important for us because sometimes, in the middle of the match, you hear them singing, shouting. So it fills you with even more emotion, with the will to win so you can give everything.
