Pacho’s ex-coach highlights two key areas for improvement

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·4 November 2025

Pacho’s ex-coach highlights two key areas for improvement

Willian Pacho, a 24-year-old defender for Paris Saint-Germain and Ecuador, has made a habit of impressing the football world since his signing in the summer of 2024 from Eintracht Frankfurt. But he can still improve. Especially 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 upwards. And his qualities are very important in today’s football culture: tactics, physicality. And of course, he’s a very lucky boy because he has a coach who sees football the way I see it, or rather, I see football the way his coach Luis Enrique does… He’s a very lucky boy because he has a great coach who will develop his qualities and whose style of play allows Pacho to showcase his abilities.”

Pacho has two flaws to work on.

“In moments of contact, in duels, you have to be ‘mean’ as a defender and you have to be aggressive. And that’s completely the opposite of what Pacho is as a person. These are the qualities we tried to improve… or rather, we tried to enhance his strengths and correct this kind of issue. He’s a very reserved boy, he doesn’t talk much. I sometimes told him: ‘Can you speak so I can hear your voice?’ I also told him: ‘Because in this position, you have to talk. Today you play with a great player by your side but in the future, you’ll be the big man with a youngster next to you.’ In his position, he has to talk, he has to lead the defensive line, he has to talk about 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 been around Pacho, it’s no surprise to see him making his mark. His qualities are clear, with athletic strength well complemented by his intelligence, calmness, and technique. It’s worth noting that he never panics, no matter the situation or the importance of the match. This helps his entire team stay in control, never falling apart.

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Perhaps the Ecuadorian could be a bit more “mean,” even if it doesn’t always show. He already appears very tough in duels, and his talent for not committing fouls shouldn’t be overlooked. Communication could be an interesting aspect, helping him assert himself even more as a leader. Still, there’s no need for everyone to be talking all the time. Marquinhos (31 years old) is currently taking on the leadership role very well. The question arises when he’s absent. This is also experience for Pacho to gain, as he is still very young and already full of qualities.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.