“I Was Eager to Play with Him”: Willian Pacho Discusses Partnership with Marquinhos
Paris Saint-Germain will host Lens on Saturday when the new-look Ligue 1 leaders show off their young talent. Among these young stars is a 23-year-old Ecuadorian defender, Willian Pacho, one of this season’s sensations for having stepped up in a squad that moved from a team full of superstars to a team of youngsters.
Pacho, who signed for PSG from Eintracht Frankfurt this summer, is looking forward to establishing a defensive partnership with one of PSG’s veterans, 30-year-old Brazilian international Marquinhos. Speaking about this new relationship, Pacho expressed his excitement in an interview this week: “I was eager to play with him. It’s like a childhood dream – I’ve watched him for years in the Champions League.”
For Pacho, playing alongside Marquinhos isn’t just about the thrill of joining forces with a football icon. He sees it as an invaluable learning experience. “I’m learning a lot from him,” he added, describing Marquinhos as both a skilled player and a good teammate. “I’m working hard to learn and reach my dreams.”
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While some would suggest that Ligue 1 is the softer of the two leagues, Pacho labelled the suggestion as laughable. “Oh no, it’s very tough,” he insisted. “Opponents often change their tactics when they play us, so it’s very strategic, and you have to stay sharp.”.
Last weekend, PSG showed their title pretensions when they ran out 3-0 winners against Marseille in a match that was expected to be much closer. Going into the weekend fixture against Lens, PSG enjoys a three-point advantage over Monaco, who entertained Angers on Friday. Lille coach Bruno Genesio has a personal score to settle when he returns to his old club Lyon in Saturday’s fixture.
Its commitment to youth is reflected in the emergence of Warren Zaire-Emery (18), Joao Neves (20), and Bradley Barcola (22) this season. Of the three, Barcola is probably the most exciting; he has already scored eight league goals. His skill and confidence are only signs of how well he can replace Kylian Mbappe if Mbappe decides to move to Real Madrid.
In a nod to their rising talent, PSG’s Zaire-Emery, Neves, and Desire Doue have each been nominated for the 2024 Golden Boy award, an honor for Europe’s best under-21 player.
Fixtures and Key Stats
Key Matches This Weekend
| Days | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| 1 | Monaco v Angers (18:00 GMT) | PSG v Lens (16:00 GMT) | Toulouse v Reims (14:00 GMT) |
| 2 | Lille v Lyon (20:00 GMT) | Brest v Nice (18:00 GMT) | Auxerre v Rennes |
| 3 | St Etienne v Strasbourg (20:00 GMT) | Le Havre v Montpellier | |
| 4 | Nantes v Marseille (19:45 GMT) |
Stat to Watch
3 – PSG’s Zaire-Emery, Neves, and Doue have been named among the 25 nominees for the prestigious Golden Boy 2024 award, handed out to the finest young talent in Europe.
Fresh faces of emerging stars and a core of veteran leaders make PSG’s season one to watch as they continue to chase their Ligue 1 title ambitions.
