Orlando City SC Head Coach Oscar Pareja
Opening Statement
“Well, first, from all the players in the Club and everyone, we want to thank the people who came to the stadium. Our fans, seeing them supporting and getting in the stadium was extraordinary. So, thank you so much, fans. Thank you so much for your energy. The boys were talking about it and I wanted to highlight that. So, regarding the game, I thought that we played very well offensively and defensively. What gave us the pace that we started the game with was that defensively we showed consistency and responsibility. All of what happened up front, for me, is a result of that collective effort that we had as a team. We played against a great rival, and tonight, having these three points and scoring in front of our fans, again, it was extraordinary. Fantastic night for us.”
On the chemistry between forwards Luis Muriel and Martín Ojeda
“Those chemistries, sometimes they come organically. As much as we want to coach and to be present in training and create sequences, the best you can have on a team is organic chemistry. It’s something that comes from their communion on the pitch. Now they’ve found, in those moments, things that are hard to explain. But it's great to see and they know. I can see it on the training ground, I can see it in the locker room, so we hope for those chemistries to continue. Even the guys that are coming from the bench, they also show that. Because Ramiro [Enrique] is also in a good moment. But what is happening with Martín [Ojeda] and Luis [Muriel] up front, it is extraordinary. I think both of them are finding that connection that is making us much better than before.”
On Tyrese Spicer making his Orlando City debut
“From the first time that his name was brought up to us and the first time I saw him out on the training ground, I see great benefits for our team. Someone who can change the game with his pace and he knows about our ethics and working defensively. He will buy us a little bit of time for the youngsters that are coming, but they are in the process. Spicer already knows the league and so it is great news for our fans.”
Orlando City SC Defender Robin Jansson
Opening Statement
“We feel great, obviously. Good game, three points. Keeping the streak intact. Never lost to them here. We know that we're strong here when we play them. So, I'm super thankful to our fans for coming out to the stadium. It was electric tonight, incredible. We needed that. When we got to 1-0, it was a really good atmosphere around here, even before. Then they [Inter Miami CF] scored so quickly on us, which we didn't really like. But they brought us back up again and we moved on from there.”
On the difference in the second half
“We know that we have good quality up [top] and we really took the chances that we had. They are always creating and are dangerous, and when we get that thing going, we can beat anyone. Also, we could have been a little better keeping the ball in the second half. I think that's something that we still have to work on because we've been struggling with it in the games before to keep it a little bit longer when we go up 2-1 or 3-1 instead of rushing forward. But overall, a good performance."
On a rivalry win
“Three points against your rival, it's super important. It’s awesome. For us it doesn't matter who we’re facing, the other team. We focus on our team and try to put our team as high in the standings that we can, and that's what we focus on.”
Orlando City SC Forward Luis Muriel
On scoring a brace
“Incredible. These are the weeks and the games you dream about as a player. It is a unique feeling and I feel spectacular to be able to help my team in the way that I am. To help us score goals, to help us win games like this. I hope that I can continue scoring and helping the team in the weeks to come.”
On scoring the first goal of the game
“[It felt] good. Incredible. To be able to score that early and more so because of the atmosphere in the stadium, how packed it was, the energy that the fans were bringing. It felt fantastic to score so quickly in a game, in an atmosphere like that. I hope that we're able to have the stadium like this in the games to come as we continue to push and fight for the title that so many people in Orlando want. It was fantastic tonight.”
On his chemistry with Martín Ojeda
“I think the chemistry that’s there, Martín has with everybody. It's not just with me. He's having such an incredible season for Orlando. He’s having such an incredible season for himself and every single moment from Martín can be magic. I think I’m getting there as well. I'm having a great year for myself. Some moments better than others, such as right now, but I think it all stems from the work that we all do in training and the work that we do throughout the week. Hopefully we're able to keep it up.”
