Willian Pacho, the 24-year-old defender for Paris Saint-Germain and Ecuador, has made a habit of impressing the football world since signing from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer of 2024. But he still has room to improve, particularly in two specific areas, according to Renato Paiva, his first professional coach at Independiente del Valle.
“Pacho has a great coach who will develop his qualities and whose style of play allows Pacho to showcase his abilities.”
“I’m not surprised because his career has gone from the bottom to the top, or at least to the top. And his qualities are very important in today’s football culture: tactics, physicality. And of course, he’s a very lucky lad because he has a coach who sees football the way I do, or rather, I see football the way his coach Luis Enrique does… He’s a very lucky lad because he has a great coach who will develop his qualities and whose style of play allows Pacho to showcase them.
Pacho has two weaknesses he needs to work on.
“In physical situations, in duels, you have to be ‘nasty’ as a defender, you have to be aggressive. And that’s completely the opposite of who Pacho is as a person. These are the qualities we tried to improve… or rather, we tried to improve his qualities and correct these kinds of problems.
He’s a very reserved guy, he doesn’t talk much. I sometimes said to him, ‘Can you talk so I can hear your voice?’ I also told him, ‘Because in that position, you have to talk. Today you’re playing with a great player alongside you, but in the future, you’ll be the big guy with a young man by your side.’ In his position, he has to talk, he has to direct the defensive line, he has to communicate about the defense with his midfielders. But that’s Pacho. Pacho isn’t like that (a very vocal player), and his personality, in my opinion, influences the negative aspects of his game.”
Having played alongside Pacho, it’s no surprise to see him establish himself. His qualities are clear, with athletic strength complemented by intelligence, composure, and technique. It’s worth noting that he never panics, regardless of the situation or the importance of the match. This helps his entire team maintain control and avoid collapsing.
Perhaps the Ecuadorian could be more aggressive, even if it’s not immediately apparent. He’s already very physical in challenges, and his ability to avoid fouls is undeniable. Communication could be a valuable asset, allowing him to further solidify his leadership role. However, it’s important to remember that everyone doesn’t need to be constantly talking indiscriminately. Marquinhos (31 years old) is currently handling this leadership role very well. The question arises when he’s absent. It’s also experience for Pacho to gain, who is still very young and already full of qualities.
