Orlando City SC Head Coach Oscar Pareja
Opening Statement
"I thought from the first minute to the 90th, we had a feel and comfort in the game, but we just couldn’t find our rhythm. I have to say we tried to move, and eventually, we had some moments that sparked us a little. But overall, it was a very uncomfortable game for us, even though we did enough to win. That’s part of the frustration, especially because we must win at home. It’s another chapter of, ‘Okay, it could have been,’ and we have to transform that into reality. That’s the frustration. It was a very complicated game, not an easy one."
On recent offensive struggles
"We’re trying. We’re exploring different ways to improve. We haven’t had a bad record offensively this year. I think, in that regard, we’ve been good. But still, we want to do better. When you try to make those improvements, sometimes the game tells you, ‘Not that way.’ It’s not as easy as just moving pieces around and expecting results. That’s a lesson for me, especially."
On responding to CF Montréal’s game model
“When you face rivals that play with a model of chasing and turning the game into a duel in every area, it tends to become a match that’s constantly interrupted. The sequences break down if we can’t get the flow we want. Eventually, we did. It seemed like we were finding our rhythm, but then we returned to that discomfort in the game. From our side, that’s what we need to control. We tried to give the game flow and use the spaces the way we usually do, but it was a challenge. That’s why, to me, the game didn’t seem to have rhythm. I’ve reviewed it, obviously, but from my perspective on the bench, we never really found that flow. The game was probably going to finish 1-0 until that play came, the one that’s so frustrating.”
Orlando City SC Defender Kyle Smith
Opening Statement
"In tonight’s game, I thought we did well. You know, Martín [Ojeda], great goal off the free kick. I thought we did well in the second half, keeping possession. We just need to finish off maybe another chance or two, and then [Montréal] got a penalty kick at the end. It’s tough. Then we pushed to try to get another goal, but unfortunately, we couldn’t get it. So, we move on to Wednesday.”
On how Orlando City can generate more quality chances
"I think it’s just about continuing to work in training and watching film. We’ve been good offensively throughout the season, we have a lot of guys with goals and assists, so I’m very confident. We were not scoring tonight, I think maybe it just wasn’t our night. Maybe the connection wasn’t there, the final ball."
On CF Montréal's play
"I think [Montréal] did a good job keeping the ball. Good defense is a good offense; maintaining possession limited our chances in the attack. And with their back five, I think that helped control what we were trying to do."
Orlando City SC Forward Martín Ojeda
Opening Statement
“A little upset about the result. I think it was maybe a bit unjust, something we didn’t really see coming, kind of like the FC Cincinnati game. We’re frustrated because we lost points that would have served us well. But we need to move forward. We’re aware of this, and we’ll keep working hard, straight through to the end.”
On recent offensive struggles
“I think we lacked clarity, like in the FC Cincinnati game you mentioned, as well as today. We need a bit more patience to create more chances. We’re working on that. I think it’s very important to have that patience and not finish the play too quickly, to make that extra pass at the end. I say that, but I also think we had a good game offensively. We’re not going to disregard our recent form based on just one result. We have a lot left, and we’ll keep working to be more efficient in front of goal.”
On his set piece goal
“Yeah, it’s something we work on with the coaches, with Martín Perelman who is in charge of that, in particular. Today, it was a little bit of guile that thankfully ended in a goal. We do have quality players with a lot of technique. A lot of these players can produce moments like that. So we’ll just continue on this path.”
