by Alyce Collett (6/9/26)
Above: Maz Pacheco and her Everton team mates will certainly be looking for a much more straightforward season than last year was. Photo: via Everton Women.
It is the dawn of a new season for Everton, with the Toffees looking to build upon a 2025/26 season that could have gone better but also could have gone much worse.
Speaking to Impetus Football ahead of today’s season opener against Crystal Palace, Everton star Maz Pacheco had one simple message for the fans.
“I think trust the process is a big one” Pacheco said.
“It’s a project. Obviously we’re not like the Arsenals with massive budget, London City with a huge budget, but we do have quality players and I think just get behind the girls, get behind the manager, and they’ll see the quality pull through.”
Pacheco was forthright in her summary of how last season went for Everton, which saw the side finish in eighth place on the table for the third season in a row.
“It was, I say, a rollercoaster” Pacheco said.
“We had a lot of ups, we had a lot of downs. It wasn’t quite smooth sailing as I think all of us wanted.
“Obviously, there was a lot of change of staff, a lot of change of manager into a new one, so our boat wasn’t as steady as we’d have liked. But I feel like you could see the quality we had in the group, especially against your Arsenals, Chelsea away, Man City.
“So it’s like this season we want to capitalize on that and make sure we perform majority of the games that we play. That’s what we’re looking for in the new season.”
Pacheco also said that the mood in the group ahead of the season has “been good, very exciting.”
“Obviously, we’ve got a bunch of new players coming in, and obviously it’s getting to know them as well as, as getting to know Scott [Phelan, new permanent Everton head coach] still. Because Scott did come in halfway through the season, so it’s still getting to know his style and how he wants us to play” Pacheco said.
“But the mood of the group I think is very excited. We’re all having fun, and we’ve got a good bunch around us.”
It was another busy offseason for Everton on the signing front, bringing in a number of new players such as Holly McNamara, Julia Rantala and Naomi Layzell.
“I think we’ve got a bunch of personality” Pacheco said when asked about what her new teammates have brought to the group.
“Obviously they’re very good on the pitch, very direct players. We’ve got a lot of players that filled gaps that we had.
“Obviously we’ve let a few girls go last season, we needed to recruit, but definitely just hardworking, technical ability, and just exciting players. So I think that’s something that the fans will look forward to next season.”
The preseason just finished is Pacheco’s second at Everton, and she described it as “Very, very, very different I’d say” from her first at the club.
“I’m much more settled now” Pacheco noted.
“I’m settled into being more of a senior player, which is quite new for me. I think I’m always used to being the young one that I can get away with murder. But obviously, as the years have gone on – which I’ve not realized – I’m getting older, I’m getting more towards 30 and there’s some 19, 21 year olds that like to remind me, like Ruby Mace, that I’m an old one in the squad.
“So yeah I feel a bit more settled, feel like a little bit more of a leader, which is being quite nice, but also being challenged at left back. Obviously we’ve got me and Hika[ru Kitagawa] who can play there and it’s been very competitive between us, which has been a learning curve and I’ve enjoyed it.”
On a personal note, Pacheco’s goals for the upcoming season were simple and straightforward.
“I think for me to be a starting 11 player, make an impact on the pitch” Pacheco explained.
“So whether that’s my defending or attacking, and definitely become more of a leader.”
Everton’s Women’s Super League season kicks off later today when they visit Crystal Palace at the VBS Community Stadium.
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