DANI PACHECO is aiming to muscle in on a first team place at Liverpool this season.
The talented, but tiny Spanish starlet has been spending extra time in the Melwood gym in a bid to cope with the physical demands of the Premier League.
And even though the five feet six inch striker has already made a significant impact in the first team this season – notably with his goal creating contribution against Unirea Urziceni last month and a lively Champions League cameo against Fiorentina back in December, the 19-year-old is looking further ahead to the future.
Still to make his first competitive start, the former Barcelona youngster hopes an intensive weight training regimen will help him realise that ambition sooner rather than later.
“I am working hard in the gym to improve my physical side and try to be stronger in the next few years,” said Pacheco.
“I have to be patient and keep working hard. It's not easy to play in the first team at this great club. You have to learn different things every day and listen to what the staff are telling you, then do that on the pitch.
“You have to be focused every day in training and then when the chance comes I have to be ready.”
With two games in four days next week – the Premeir League trip to Wigan on Monday followed by the trip to Lille for the Europa League last 16 first-leg, Pacheco is hoping he may get further opportunities to impress.
“We have a very important week coming up,” he declared.
“It’s important we beat Wigan on Monday because we need to keep up our fight for fourth place. We then have the Europa League when we play Lille which will be another tough game, so I have to be ready if the manager needs me.”
The last time his manager needed him, Pacheco rose to the occasion – literally as well as metaphorically – climbing to head Ryan Babel’s cross into David Ngog’s path and give Liverpool a crucial one goal advantage from the first leg of their last 32 Europa League clash with Unirea.
“That was my best moment so far at Liverpool and it was really special for me,” he added.
“To play for the first team and be involved in the winning goal in front of The Kop was special for me and all of my family.
“It has been a really good season for me so far and it has given me a lot of confidence. I know I have a long way to go if I want to play for the first team every week, so I will keep working hard and hopefully I'll play more games in the future.
“I always say you will improve every day as a player training with the first team. I train every day with players like Fernando and Stevie and they are always talking to me, giving me advice and helping me a lot.”
Pacheco himself turned helper and advisor this week when he was the guest of honour at Liverpool FC’s Young Person of the Year awards at Anfield.
Honouring the outstanding achievements of young people in the city, the event was in its ninth year – and presents awards based on commitment and compassion displayed in the community, and courage shown in overcoming affliction.
“Of course it was a real privilege to hand out the awards to all the youngsters and I will be happy to come back any time they want me.
“We players are people and were young once too, so for us it is very important to come here and help out.
“It's a special night for everyone involved, including myself.”
Liverpool FC Regeneration Director, Andrea Titterington, said: “This is a huge celebration for young people.
“So many times, all you hear in the press are negative things about young people, but actually the majority of young people are terrific.
“This is an opportunity for people in the community to nominate young people who have made a huge contribution, who have tremendous courage and have overcome all sorts of issues. It's just the greatest night ever - it's better than the Oscars!”
She added: “It's important for the club to be involved in events like this because it underlines everything else we do in the community, not just the regeneration projects we're doing in Anfield, but also all the community projects that Bill Bygroves' team does, the education projects, the coaching and physical activity projects, and the health programmes we run as well.
“The commitment to the local community here is immense and this is a great opportunity to celebrate that.
“It's absolutely essential for first-team players to lend their support. It really is a life changing experience for young people to meet their heroes, even if they happen to be Evertonians!!
Awards given out included Schools Special achievement awards, the Sweeper Zone awards, Kickz, Goals for Girls, Reading 4 Families and the Jack Carley award for amazing courage.
Community Manager Bill Bygroves added: “I think it's vitally important for the club to hold events like this because it's a connection between the young people of our district and community with the football club.”
The event is backed by Liverpool City Council, who have been involved since the awards' inception in 2002.
The talented, but tiny Spanish starlet has been spending extra time in the Melwood gym in a bid to cope with the physical demands of the Premier League.
And even though the five feet six inch striker has already made a significant impact in the first team this season – notably with his goal creating contribution against Unirea Urziceni last month and a lively Champions League cameo against Fiorentina back in December, the 19-year-old is looking further ahead to the future.
Still to make his first competitive start, the former Barcelona youngster hopes an intensive weight training regimen will help him realise that ambition sooner rather than later.
“I am working hard in the gym to improve my physical side and try to be stronger in the next few years,” said Pacheco.
“I have to be patient and keep working hard. It's not easy to play in the first team at this great club. You have to learn different things every day and listen to what the staff are telling you, then do that on the pitch.
“You have to be focused every day in training and then when the chance comes I have to be ready.”
With two games in four days next week – the Premeir League trip to Wigan on Monday followed by the trip to Lille for the Europa League last 16 first-leg, Pacheco is hoping he may get further opportunities to impress.
“We have a very important week coming up,” he declared.
“It’s important we beat Wigan on Monday because we need to keep up our fight for fourth place. We then have the Europa League when we play Lille which will be another tough game, so I have to be ready if the manager needs me.”
The last time his manager needed him, Pacheco rose to the occasion – literally as well as metaphorically – climbing to head Ryan Babel’s cross into David Ngog’s path and give Liverpool a crucial one goal advantage from the first leg of their last 32 Europa League clash with Unirea.
“That was my best moment so far at Liverpool and it was really special for me,” he added.
“To play for the first team and be involved in the winning goal in front of The Kop was special for me and all of my family.
“It has been a really good season for me so far and it has given me a lot of confidence. I know I have a long way to go if I want to play for the first team every week, so I will keep working hard and hopefully I'll play more games in the future.
“I always say you will improve every day as a player training with the first team. I train every day with players like Fernando and Stevie and they are always talking to me, giving me advice and helping me a lot.”
Pacheco himself turned helper and advisor this week when he was the guest of honour at Liverpool FC’s Young Person of the Year awards at Anfield.
Honouring the outstanding achievements of young people in the city, the event was in its ninth year – and presents awards based on commitment and compassion displayed in the community, and courage shown in overcoming affliction.
“Of course it was a real privilege to hand out the awards to all the youngsters and I will be happy to come back any time they want me.
“We players are people and were young once too, so for us it is very important to come here and help out.
“It's a special night for everyone involved, including myself.”
Liverpool FC Regeneration Director, Andrea Titterington, said: “This is a huge celebration for young people.
“So many times, all you hear in the press are negative things about young people, but actually the majority of young people are terrific.
“This is an opportunity for people in the community to nominate young people who have made a huge contribution, who have tremendous courage and have overcome all sorts of issues. It's just the greatest night ever - it's better than the Oscars!”
She added: “It's important for the club to be involved in events like this because it underlines everything else we do in the community, not just the regeneration projects we're doing in Anfield, but also all the community projects that Bill Bygroves' team does, the education projects, the coaching and physical activity projects, and the health programmes we run as well.
“The commitment to the local community here is immense and this is a great opportunity to celebrate that.
“It's absolutely essential for first-team players to lend their support. It really is a life changing experience for young people to meet their heroes, even if they happen to be Evertonians!!
Awards given out included Schools Special achievement awards, the Sweeper Zone awards, Kickz, Goals for Girls, Reading 4 Families and the Jack Carley award for amazing courage.
Community Manager Bill Bygroves added: “I think it's vitally important for the club to hold events like this because it's a connection between the young people of our district and community with the football club.”
The event is backed by Liverpool City Council, who have been involved since the awards' inception in 2002.
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