PSG: Butez addresses concerns over Pacho

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·10 mars 2026

PSG: Butez addresses concerns over Pacho

Jean Butez, a 30-year-old goalkeeper trained at Lille and currently at Como, who knew Pacho at Royal Antwerp (2022-2023), was invited by L’Equipe to comment on the “dip in form” of the 24-year-old Paris Saint-Germain defender highlighted by the sports newspaper this Tuesday. The keeper also assessed his development at PSG and his style of play.

“It’s still very impressive and remarkable to have seized his chance and then been so consistent.”

His development? To see him establish himself at Antwerp and then at Frankfurt so quickly was already something remarkable. Given his quick, powerful profile and his age, seeing him sign for Paris didn’t really surprise me. But still, it’s very impressive and remarkable to have seized his chance and then been so consistent. When you look at his career path, I think that having played alongside players like Toby Alderweireld at Antwerp, the German international (Robin Koch) at Frankfurt, or Marquinhos—only experienced players—was a real opportunity for him. Has he changed a lot compared to his time in Belgium? I feel like I’m seeing the same player, with his chewing gum, his fake nonchalance (laughs). Pacho is a paradox! He gives the impression of being nonchalant, but he’s one of the most powerful players I’ve ever played with. As soon as he’s in contact, he never gets beaten. I’ve rarely seen a player so strong in that aspect. He always intervenes at the right moment with very intelligent positioning. And since he’s fast…

“It’s not ‘human’ to always stay at the top.”

A dip in form now, which he had already experienced in Belgium? I don’t remember him going through this kind of period. He’s always been extremely consistent. I’m not in the team, but maybe it’s also due to a more collective issue. Pacho has been on top of the world for months. It’s not “human” to always stay at the top. It’s normal to have a little slump. He’s still young, it’s part of the game.”

Pacho has been a bit less dominant and already L’Equipe is questioning a dip in form, with explanations and a projection for the future. Butez responds with great accuracy: you rarely just need to look at the player alone to explain a performance in a team context, and we must not forget that there is a human being involved.

Vidéos OneFootball

PSG has been a bit less effective in their pressing and ball progression, which exposes the defense a bit more. So there are additional difficulties. Individually, fatigue is also possible and it’s impossible to always be at your best. The Ecuadorian defender is not in a slump or showing worrying performances either.

Above all, he remains a reliable, calm, and powerful asset. While he always displays a certain composure, Pacho knows how to be aggressive in duels and find the right pass to avoid danger. We shouldn’t suddenly consider him an average player. His trajectory is also impressive, going in two years from Royal Antwerp (with all due respect to that club) to European champion status at PSG. The defender has managed to handle each step and always rise to the occasion. There’s no reason to worry today.

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