Orlando City SC Head Coach Oscar Pareja
Opening Statement
“We have reasons to feel frustrated tonight for not achieving the objective of winning the game and getting the three points, especially after we tied the game and we have one more player. That feeling is there. But at the same time, I want to recognize that from the first minute, I thought Orlando dictated the tempo and the pace of the game and the majority of the options and many of the plays we could have scored, as well, has to be evaluated. And this frustration is part of the game. We have to polish in the last third again and be the team that we are when we create the options and score and that’s what makes you win games. But other than that, I thought the behavior of the boys tactically and the overall game, it was as you all saw it, very dominant for Orlando.”
On midfielder Joran Gerbet’s performance
“Joran is great news for us. Today, after a long period of recuperation, I see that one player that we saw before that injury. He found his rhythm, and today, I thought he connected the way we needed. It was in a special moment for us because we depend a lot on that creativity from that position and he gave us that pass that we needed. So, we’re happy with it and it’s good that you ask because the game brought us very positive things. The only thing, and the most important one, is that we couldn’t score that one goal that make us add three points. But the overall performance of the team, I have to say that I liked and that detail that you mention, the performance of Joran, is great news for the team.”
On forward Duncan McGuire’s performance
“Another good news, seeing Duncan totally recovered from his surgeries. The other part is that he can reengage with the group, get his timing, get his touch and get what he has—that characteristic that when he has one or two chances, he puts them in the back of the net. It’s obvious today, we were expecting that to happen, but you’ll know that requires a couple of games. But today, his performance tells us that he’s recovered, that he’s good and that he needs minutes, too. It was good to see him again with the group. I wanted to see him score, obviously, because that is what we needed, but has to know that he came from a long period of recovery.”
Orlando City SC Defender Alex Freeman
Opening Statement
“Obviously, we wanted to come away with three points, but I think it was just hard for us to be able to finish actions. We had the opportunities to go and finish but we weren’t as lethal as we wanted to be. Happy that we were able to come out with a point, but also not happy that we couldn’t come up with three points, you know, [as we’re] trying to fight for the Supporters’ Shield."
On the result
“I think as a team, obviously we wanted more, be able to go away with three points. We had chances that if only we’d finished, but now I just think that it’s just being able to go and [watch] video and work on what we need to do that we weren’t great on in the game and being able to go home next week and get the three points.”
On playing against ten men
“I think for us, it’s just to be more calm. I feel like sometimes we’re up a man and it’s a tied game or we’re losing, it’s our trigger to just go and just shoot or pass, whatever we need. But I feel like in those situations, make them tired, you know. [We need to] be able to run them down and then be able to attack. I feel like in those situations sometimes we rush a little more than we have to. Just being able to go and be calm and more lethal and more precise in those situations.”
