“It’s been a great year, but I want to put the icing on the cake”

Jon Pacheco can’t wait for the day to go around his native Elizondo and taste the cheese croquettes at Galarza or the tortilla at Casino or Karrika. He is one of the few Real footballers who has never taken a vacation. Despite his desire to return, he hoped that his return would be delayed a few days at a time. Tomorrow, with the Under-21 team, he will try to win the ticket for the European final of the category played in Romania. As of now, he has secured the ticket for the Olympic Games in Paris. “It’s been a good year, but I want to put the icing on the cake”, wished the Real footballer.

Fourth place in Real, qualification for the Champions League, ticket to the Olympic Games, semifinals in the European Under-21… What more could Jon Pacheco ask for this season?

(laughs) It would be better if we win the European one, but we can’t think about that yet. We have a semifinal against Ukraine. We have played against them and they have made us suffer. You have to take it step by step and not think beyond tomorrow’s game.

One of the goals, to get an Olympic passport, has already been achieved. What does it mean to be in an Olympic Games?

A dream. Maybe it’s something you dreamed about when you were little, but never thought it would come to pass. You know me, I settle for little. Having qualified for the Olympic Games is something important. For footballers, getting the chance to play in the Olympics is very complicated and having that option is something incredible. It’s not like other sports, where you can go every four years, but not footballers. Also, being surrounded by the best athletes in the world is an unforgettable experience and I hope to fulfill that dream. This is almost the maximum which a footballer can opt for.

Spain is always considered the favorite in this type of competition. How do you feel before the semifinal against Ukraine?

By selection, Spain is always a candidate to be among the best, but hey, from there to winning the championship there is always the world. As much as you are considered a favorite, you have to do your job because if you don’t, you can go home very fast. We have to continue to show that we are here to win, at least try.

What game are you waiting for? You know what it’s like to play against Ukraine in the group stage…

I think it will be a different game than what we have played against them. They practice a style that I like personally. They play behind and are very daring. It will be difficult because a lot of work is needed to get the ball away from them and Mykhaylo Mudryk will also play who has not played until now. We are talking about Champions level players, so it will be a tough game. It should not be forgotten that they eliminated an always strong team like the French. So you have to be careful.

Personally speaking, a good year, playing some minutes at Real, being the undisputed starter for Denia in the European Championship except, certainly, the match against Ukraine. What does it mean to live it all?

I’m living a dream. This football is very fast. It’s like a train that goes by very fast and you can either get on or you can stay on the bottom. Being at Real and qualifying for the Champions League, well, we still can’t believe it. We are not aware of it. And then, being called up to the national team and having the chance to win the Under-19 European Championship is the result of everything, the work that is done in Zubieta and every day.

Are you giving yourself time to enjoy everything that happens to you?

Everything is really fast. Let’s see if we can win this and put the icing on the cake. Then there will be time to celebrate everything as it should be.

Have you had time to assimilate that next year you will be playing in the Champions League with Real?

Not so much, because after the season with Real, we had to go to Madrid to focus on the national team. I repeat that we do not realize the success we have achieved. When the Champions League anthem played, which has played here once, Barrene and I didn’t look at each other and our feathers stood on end. It’s a moment we’ve all been waiting for, wishing we could live it. Let’s see if it comes soon and we give a very good image in the Champions League.

In person, how are you?

With confidence and it is something that I have to thank Santi Denia, who is the one who bets on us. I’m so happy. All you can do is restore trust by doing your best.

Barrenetxea doesn’t play like you, but he takes advantage of the minutes he has. He ends the season like a shot. What do you think?

That’s true. But that’s the good thing about the training that Imanol and I do. You may not play much, but the intensity of our work helps keep us in shape. His case is different from mine, because he missed a good part of the season because of the important injury he suffered, but we have already seen how he finished the season with us and here, what he played, he was doing well Also remember that there is a lot of competition.

Royal is trendy. Barrenetxea and you in the semifinals of the European Under-21; Merino, Le Normand and Zubimendi, champions of the Nations League. Have you ever realized, that there are many eyes on Real players?

I think the work done at Real is a model to follow. The training, the everyday at Zubieta… You have a lot of work. Hard daily work is one of Imanol’s strong points. Then, you are ready for any situation, for any game. We saw that we reached the national team with a level. In essence, both Merino and Le Normand did the same.

He is two steps away from achieving something that Asier Illarramendi did in his time. Due to his performance in that European Under-21, Real Madrid paid his clause…

(Laughter) I never thought that would happen to me. I’m very calm, just thinking about tomorrow’s game and winning it, and then about the final, and doing the same. I was twelve years old when Ilarra won that championship and the memories are not very clear. I have a contract until 2025. Now things are going well for me, but football changes a lot and you can’t relax anytime. You have to give 100% always.