The Lions wrap up their 2017 MLS season this Sunday against the Philadelphia Union with one goal in mind: finish strong.
“You always want to finish the right way,” Orlando City defender Scott Sutter said. “It’s a good opportunity for us to finish the season - despite the disappointment of not making the playoffs - the right way. Also, I think finishing the season in a good, positive way gives a good start mentally for next season.”
As Orlando City pushes for three points this Sunday, head coach Jason Kreis will be keen to see his players’ reactions having been eliminated from the playoffs. For all intents and purposes, Kreis, his coaching staff and the players have already begun work for the 2018 season, but the team remains dialed in and determined for three points this Sunday.
“For me it’s about ending well. Everything we do we should want to do well at the end,” Kreis said on Wednesday. “That is why we’re competitors, that’s why we’re professional athletes, professional coaches. We want to finish well and be able to walk out of the season with our heads held high and our chests out to say, ‘OK, we gave everything we had.’”
Lions players’ efforts cannot be faulted this season. The team has given everything, but a mid-season dip in form along with some unfavorable results down the stretch put Orlando City out of the running for MLS playoffs. Make no mistake, qualifying for the playoffs was the goal of this team. Kreis, the players and Orlando City faithful saw that as an attainable goal, but it didn’t happen - and there’s no time to sulk. The next step for this team is to go and get a result against the Philadelphia Union.
