ORLANDO, Fla. — Thursday afternoon at Inter&Co Stadium marked four days out from Orlando City SC's fifth straight playoff campaign.
A few of the players, as well as Head Coach Oscar Pareja and Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi, spoke to the media, alongside members of the Orlando Pride players and staff, in a full media day-style afternoon.
Pareja and Muzzi did a full 20-minute press conference, answering questions about the team, the turnaround from early in the season, and even about Inter Miami CF. The players also did some photo shoots and individual interviews with the local news crews.
Overall, throughout the three-hour ordeal, the vibes around the players were pretty high as they went from station to station, talking about the playoffs.
Duncan McGuire and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson were messing with each other as they were posing for photos, each one trying to make the other one laugh and mess up their poses (or just laughing at the poses they were making). Robin Jansson took a minute to talk with former Lion and now Head Coach of the NWSL Shield-winning Pride Seb Hines, congratulating him on winning the regular season. Facundo Torres took a minute to talk with Marta, while Pareja took a moment after his press conference to get a picture with him and the GOAT.
Overall, the boys were having a good time ahead of the start to the playoffs on Sunday, when they host Charlotte FC at 7:30 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV and FOX Sports 1.
"There's such a good banter around all the team, and I think it's the best thing in the world," Thorhallsson told OrlandoCitySC.com. "When you're with a group and you're in their locker room and everybody's laughing, I feel like we're all more relaxed. Of course, there's a tension in the air because it's the playoffs, but everybody's relaxed and ready for it."
That vibe and banter within the team has grown over the season, just as the team has grown in their form on the pitch. Going from second-to-last heading into the summer to now ending the regular season as one of the hottest teams in the league is definitely a testament to just how close-knit this team has become.
"I think the way we've shown ourselves on the field the past few months is a really good brand of football that I'm excited to be a part of," McGuire said. "The way that we finished the season, locking in fourth place, is huge for us."
Even after the loss to Atlanta United on the final day of the season, the boys have kept that level of confidence heading into the postseason. It's been infectious from the leaders of the team down to the staff with one goal in mind (to borrow a phrase from the movie "Major League"): Win the whole f'ing thing.
"I don't assume it. We think we're going to win it," Thorhallsson said. "We're going to try to win it, and we're going to try to do it the best we can."
Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoff Eastern Conference Final
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Don't miss Kickoff -60, airing one hour before Orlando City's match on Sunday, on the LionNation App or on OrlandoCitySC.com. Join host Evan Weston and former Orlando City defender Scott Sutter as they break down the upcoming match against Charlotte FC.
Fans can download the LionNation App at the link here.
