Everton defender Maz Pacheco has revealed how her mentality has shifted since joining the Toffees from Aston Villa.
The 27-year-old made the switch during the summer transfer window after four years at Villa Park.
Pacheco was one of nine signings during a busy summer for Brian Sorensen’s side, as they look to climb up the Women’s Super League table this season.
She was one of the senior players out on the pitch for the Toffees as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Nottingham Forest in the Women’s League Cup on Sunday.
Emily Ramsey’s heroics in goal earned the Toffees an extra point by winning the penalty shootout.
Maz Pacheco embracing leadership role at Everton
Everton star Maz Pacheco described her move to Everton as a ‘pivotal point’ in her football career.
Pacheco has plenty of experience, having played for Liverpool, Doncaster, Reading and West Ham before her move to Everton.
However, at Goodison Park she is now embracing a leadership role within the team.
She said: “I think for me coming here it’s definitely a pivotal point in my career.
“I want to be a leader, a senior player. We’ve got quite a few young girls, I guess that’s something I’m not used to.
“It’s something that was me at one point. And I think coming here, I knew the type of leader that I wanted to be, the person that I wanted to be for the girls and just stepping into that senior, leadership role.
“It’s definitely switched my mindset, whether I’m on the pitch or off the pitch.”
Why did Pacheco leave Aston Villa for Everton?
Phillipines international Pacheco joined Everton in the summer after her contract at Aston Villa expired.
A big part behind joining Everton was to move closer to her family, having come through the club’s academy.
She said: “I have matured as a player and for Everton to be the club to bring me back home is fantastic. To be close to family, to have friends already in the squad, and to be able to come to play at Goodison Park is amazing.”
Pacheco continued: “It was my grassroots club that brought me to Goodison Park and we wore blue wigs. I remember sitting in the top tier. Returning to Goodison now, it is surreal how we have gone full circle and, 10 years later, it will be the club that I play for.”
What’s next for Everton?
After the international break, Pacheco will return to Aston Villa on November 2nd as an Everton player.
The Toffees will hope to pick up a big win on the road after a slow start to the season.
After beating Liverpool on the opening day, the Toffees have drawn once and lost four games, and sit 10th in the standings.
Toffees head coach Sorensen has said that his team are ‘still finding their feet’ as they adjust with their nine new additions from the summer.
Everton are also third in their Women’s League Cup group, behind Manchester City and Nottingham Forest, and just ahead of Newcastle.
