Liverpool's Daniel Pacheco: 'A Rising Star'
Daniel ‘Dani’ Pacheco is a young Spanish footballer currently on the books of Liverpool. The 19 year old was snapped up by Liverpool in 2007 and has been an important fixture in the reserve team since then.
Before his move to Liverpool, he earned himself the reputation of one of the bright stars of the famous Barcelona academy. Nicknamed “El Asesino” (The Killer) by his team mates at Barcelona, the young Spaniard has made great strides in the last year or so
and has now been promoted to the Liverpool’s first team squad.
So far, he has appeared 4 times this season for Roy Hodgson’s team. Standing at only 5ft 6in, the Pizarra born attacker has impressed every time he has been given the chance. His deft touch and nimble footwork has already made him fans' favorite at Anfield.
It has been a long time since a youngster broke through to the Liverpool’s first team and made a name for him. Steven Gerrard and Micheal Owen are the few names that spring to mind and neither of them can be classified as recent breakthroughs. Liverpool
fans have high expectations from the Spanish sensation and they expect him to go and have a fledging career with Liverpool F.C.
Dani rose to prominence at this year’s UEFA European U-19 Championship. The Spanish side, coached by Luis Milla and boasting the next generation of Spanish stars, were in imperious form throughout the tournament and only failed to overcome the French team
in the final.
Their run to the final was orchestrated by the Liverpool attacker who scored two goals against rivals Portugal in the group stages. He followed up that performance with another impressive showing against the Italians where he scored to take Spain to the
semi-finals.
Pacheco scored early against the three lions and lead his team to the final where they lost to eventual winners, France. He was able to claim an assist in the Final and won the Golden Boot award. Dani also topped the scoring charts with 4 goals in the tournament,
a feat achieved by a certain Fernando Torres back in 2002.
Pacheco made his first team debut on 9th December 2009 as a substitute at Anfield in their UEFA Champions League match against Fiorentina. He then came off the bench for his first Barclays Premier League appearance at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Boxing
Day.
This season, Dani has already helped Liverpool beat Unirea when he came off the bench to assist David Ngog to score the winner.
Liverpool's manager, Roy Hodgson has praised the youngster time and again this season and has encouraged him to break into his first team plans.
“I thought Dani did very well when he came on against Manchester City in the five or six minutes he played," said Hodgson after the Manchester City game.
"I also thought he did very well when he came on against Trabzonspor and he made a difference. He is a player that we really believe in. He is young but it is great that I can keep giving him these opportunities and moments on the field and I think these
moments will get even longer as the season progresses."
"Now, we are in the Europa League, it is good for me too that I will be able to give chances to the likes of him, (Jay) Spearing and (Jonjo) Shelvey. They need games and we will have plenty of opportunities in the coming months."
Dani himself is determined and has gained confidence from the remarks of his manager, who also handed the Spaniard shirt No.12.
"I hope, I will play a big part. I know that I have to keep working very hard in training and I will have to take the chances that the manager will give me", said Pacheco.
Time is on his side and with the abundance of talent at his disposal; there is little doubt in the minds of Liverpool’s faithful that Dani Pacheco could be that player whose name is heard at the Anfield for many years to come.
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