With the Orlando City season down to its final two matches, the focus shifts to what the team needs to do to improve for next season. In these last two matches, the team will be traveling to Philadelphia and then finishing the season at home against D.C. United. Head Coach Jason Kreis says Orlando City fans may be seeing a change in the lineup so that Kreis can prepare for some tough offseason decisions.
“I think certainly we’re going to want to go into the offseason feeling as if I’ve given everyone a chance, I’ve given everybody an opportunity to be critically evaluated,” Kreis said after Sunday’s 1-0 loss against Montreal. “Because we will have to make some difficult decisions going into this offseason. We are doing everything we can to build a club that has the capability to be successful consistently for a long time. And that means you have to make difficult decisions when you’re wanting those kinds of goals.”
The competition may seem intimidating to some, but team captain Kaká thinks it is necessary if the team expects to improve. “I think it’s very good,” Kaká said. “Because the competition needs to start inside. We need to feel this pressure that if we’re not good enough, we do not deserve to be an Orlando City soccer player.”
Despite their league standing, these final two matches still mean a lot to the club. Kreis and his players stated that they wanted to finish as well as they could, and earn the best results for their fans. But these matches will also give Kreis and his coaching staff a chance to decide who brings passion and talent to the pitch.
