“Brilliant”: Rangers Once Targeted £38m PSG Star Who Delivered an “Incredible” Performance Against Liverpool
If Rangers believed John Souttar and Leon Balogun's dominant first-leg performances were the standout defensive displays in European football this month, they might need to reconsider.
While Souttar and Balogun combined for an impressive 26 clearances as Rangers overpowered Fenerbahce’s elite forward line, another center-back—one who could have been wearing Rangers blue a couple of years ago—delivered an even greater performance.
Willian Pacho, now with Paris Saint-Germain, played a key role in eliminating Liverpool from the Champions League while ensuring PSG’s defense remained spotless.
Reports suggest Rangers had scouted Pacho during his time at Royal Antwerp.
In the fairytale story of Toby Alderweireld—the veteran who returned home to help Antwerp secure their first league title in 66 years with an iconic, Aguero-esque goal—Pacho’s contribution must not be overlooked.
Alongside Alderweireld, the Ecuadorian played a crucial role in Antwerp’s title-winning defense.
Rangers had shown interest in signing him, but Eintracht Frankfurt—who had already broken Rangers’ hearts in the Europa League final—struck again, securing Pacho’s signature.
Frankfurt reportedly paid around £9 million for the talented defender, adding him to a list of young stars, including Joey Veerman and Ian Maatsen, who slipped through Rangers’ grasp.
Pacho transitioned seamlessly from Belgian football to the Bundesliga.
Then, after making a £38 million move to PSG last summer, he began proving his worth on the grandest stage—something his former Frankfurt teammate Randal Kolo Muani has struggled to do.
Has any center-back put in a better individual performance in European competition this season? Even Souttar and Balogun’s heroics pale in comparison.
To describe Pacho’s display against Liverpool as “imperious” would be an understatement.
Few teams can keep Liverpool scoreless over 120 minutes, yet PSG managed it, thanks in part to outstanding saves from Gigi Donnarumma in regulation time, extra time, and the penalty shootout.
Pacho was ice-cool and impeccably positioned throughout, but his defining moment came when he blocked a goal-bound effort from Dominik Szoboszlai in the second half at Anfield.
‘Impeccable’ Pacho Stars as PSG Knock Out Liverpool
“The Ecuadorian defender barely missed a beat,” wrote Sports Orange in their post-match analysis, noting that Pacho often covered for the uncharacteristically sloppy Marquinhos.
“Alongside a sometimes erratic Marquinhos and later a disciplined Lucas Beraldo, the former Eintracht Frankfurt man delivered a high-level performance as PSG qualified at Liverpool’s expense.”
Eurosport went even further, declaring Pacho “unplayable” and awarding him a 9/10 rating. His dominance was evident in shutting down Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez while working with Nuno Mendes to keep Mo Salah quiet.
“Pacho repelled everything and denied Jota and Szoboszlai,” Eurosport reported. “In the final moments, he once again had Nunez in his pocket. Impeccable.”
“He wasn’t just authoritative—he was relentless. Liverpool’s attackers suffered the same fate as his chewing gum: devoured. Brilliant!”
Just as a clear gap exists between Europa League contenders and those chasing Champions League glory, there is also a difference between top-tier center-backs and the truly elite.
Rangers had once viewed Pacho as a potential partner for John Souttar back in 2023, but now he is proving himself to be on another level entirely—one of the best defenders in Europe.
