Willian Pacho made history the moment he decided to sign with Paris Saint-Germain on August 9, 2024. At that precise moment, he became the first Ecuadorian player to don the colors of the French giant, and it was impossible to predict what would come next.

“It’s been a long journey to get here,” the Ecuadorian wall said at the start of an interview where he touched on various topics, and only he truly knows the sacrifices he had to make to reach this point.

On his beginnings in football

“Well, in the neighborhood, always with my friends, with my brother’s friends who invited me. That’s where I started playing, for fun because I loved it so much. I didn’t see it as a profession, but as I grew older, I realized I could become a professional,” he shared.

“I loved playing as a striker,” was one of the surprising revelations Pacho made in this conversation, surprising because we could have missed out on the player who today is one of the most commanding center-backs in European football.

He turned down Barcelona to later join Independiente del Valle

Willian Pacho’s path led him to Independiente del Valle. He revealed that he passed on the opportunity to play for Barcelona de Guayaquil because he “missed” his mother.

The center-back’s arrival wouldn’t have been possible without the efforts of the club’s management to convince Pacho’s family. Eventually, after learning about the club’s structure, his mother agreed, and the rest is history.

Learning under Luis Enrique at PSG

Spanish coach Luis Enrique Martínez arrived to guide this group of players toward the first Champions League title in the club’s history. Willian Pacho revealed how his coach contributes to the success they’ve achieved in the last season.

“He’s clear with the things he tells us. He always gives you a way to understand things, without complicating them; it’s very simple. He’s very motivating, he always wants to win, he wants us to train at full intensity, and for us to try to improve every day,” he commented.

A piece of life advice from Willian Pacho

“Always try to learn things,” he began, adding that if you’re a footballer, never stop seeking to learn. He then shared a phrase he holds close: “Let your worst day be no different from your best day.”

This phrase, adopted from a coach at Independiente del Valle, is about balancing your days, in his own words.

Willian Pacho became the first Ecuadorian player to win a Champions League and, more recently, a Supercopa de Europa. This season, his role in Luis Enrique’s system will be vital for Paris Saint-Germain to continue achieving its goals, and for him to keep elevating his legacy.