by Chocolate Thunder Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:54 am
PACHECO: WHY I LEFT BARCELONA
Daniel Pacheco has lifted the lid on his decision to leave Barcelona for a life on Merseyside.
The 17-year-old jumped at the chance to swap the Nou Camp for Anfield in July 2007, and in an exclusive interview with Liverpoolfc.tv he revealed how many Spanish youngsters now felt they could progress better in England.
"It's a similar situation to the likes of Cesc Fabregas," said Pacheco. "Some Spanish clubs bring players in from South America then don't pay as much attention to the homegrown players.
"It was about two years ago at Barcelona that my agent told me (LFC chief scout) Eduardo Marcia was coming to watch me. I didn't know much about him other than he was from Liverpool. Obviously I was a little bit nervous but I preferred to know because then there was no chance of me relaxing in the game.
"We won 4-1 against Espanyol and I scored a hat-trick - one penalty and another two.
"Barcelona was a fantastic place for me but it was an easy decision to come to Liverpool. I'd been there four years and my girlfriend was there but I wanted to come to England.
"I played every week at Barcelona but the problem was with the contract. The club kept saying I'd get a contract but I never saw it."
Despite arriving in 2007, Pacheco remained off the radar to many Liverpool fans until his starring role in pre-season when his performances earned the high praise of first-teamers like Dirk Kuyt.
The teenager added: "I was in Malaga and was expecting to just come back on July 2. But then the club rang me in June and said I had to be back earlier to start with the first team. I was surprised but of course it made me feel very good.
"You always learn a lot in every session with the first team. They are massive players but they always help you and give you advice.
"In pre-season a lot of the Spanish players were away so I was spending time with Yossi Benayoun, Fabio Aurelio and Javier Mascherano. Everyone really, but these three speak Spanish.
"Yossi knows I like to play like him. He always tells me that I'm a good player and that when I have time I can run and take players on. But he tells me that when there is no time and opposition players are close I must pass and move."
Now back in the reserves, Pacheco is feeling the benefit of his time with Benayoun and the other senior players.
"Now I feel I am a good player for the reserves," he said. "Players are now looking for me as the first attacking player. I feel like I am making progress.
"I know I have to work hard in the reserves because this is my team. If I want to get into the first team I must first play for the reserves. Last season I had just two or three starts but now I am playing all the games."
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Patches needs to work on the physical aspect of his game and bulk up a bit. Rafa has said numerous times he thinks the lad is very capable of making the grade here at Anfield. High praise from a man who likes to keep the youngsters grounded and rarely comments on individual praise.
wrote:
Roger Hunt wrote:Is Babel out?
@ Fey for quoting 606. The place has been long infected with a diease that being retardness. 
Kas/anyone know from what?
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