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·10 de marzo de 2026

PSG – Pacho pulls no punches on Luis Enrique and Marquinhos

Willian Pacho, 24-year-old defender for Paris Saint-Germain, spoke to UEFA ahead of Chelsea’s visit to the Parc des Princes this Wednesday (kick-off at 9pm, broadcast on Canal+) in the first leg of the 2025-2026 Champions League Round of 16 (return leg on Tuesday, March 17). It was an opportunity to discuss daily life with coach Luis Enrique and Marquinhos (31-year-old central defender and captain).

Pacho: “He instills a huge desire to win and improve every day.”

“How would you describe working with Luis Enrique on a daily basis? “He’s an amazing person. Many people don’t necessarily realize what kind of person he is. He genuinely cares about the players as human beings, not just as footballers. He understands what we go through because he played himself. On the pitch, he instills a huge desire to win and to improve every day. Since I arrived, he has really helped me hold on to this idea: you can always get better.”

Pacho: “He’s a tremendous help for improving.”

What has Marquinhos brought you since your arrival at PSG? Marquinhos is an incredible person. From the moment I arrived, I felt his support. He’s been at the club for a long time and his example is very important for young players. He has this mentality of always wanting to win and push himself further. The fact that he speaks Spanish also helped me a lot at the beginning. On the pitch, he gives me a lot of advice: how to anticipate, how to read situations, how to position myself. He’s a tremendous help for improving.”

This is a sentiment often echoed by his players (or former players): Luis Enrique has a very human approach in addition to a strong tactical vision. There is this unwavering determination to always do better in order to achieve victory. That may be even more decisive than a particular playing philosophy, since football can be played in many different ways—even if one might have a preference for a certain strategy.

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Above all, Luis Enrique knows how to listen to his players and give them advice to help them improve. It’s no longer a surprise to see a player progress under the Spaniard’s guidance. In fact, it’s become something of a trademark. Vitinha (26-year-old midfielder) is a great recent example, but he’s far from the only one.

Pacho is part of this too, with his distribution becoming more interesting, even if it’s not yet a major strength. Of course, Marquinhos is also there to help him refine his skills as a defender. He’s a truly great player (despite lingering doubts from those who have chosen to make him a scapegoat for all the problems). He also has vast experience and the soul of a captain, guiding his teammates.

Pacho is very well surrounded in addition to his immense qualities, so it’s no surprise to see him asserting himself among the best in his position. We can only hope he continues on this path and eventually becomes a mentor for other players. Preferably at PSG, of course.

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