A socially distanced barbecue isn’t exactly the sort of team bonding activity Oscar Pareja is used to, but like all of us, the head coach has adapted to the times.
“It was the weirdest barbecue ever,” the Orlando City head coach said with a laugh at his weekly press conference.
Assistant coach Josema Bazan, who Pareja called an “expert” pitmaster, fired up the grill for the boys after Wednesday’s training session. Pareja remarked on the strangeness of enjoying the day while remaining socially distanced and following protocols.
“Obviously considering the distance and things, as I’m saying that it’s too weird, but we found a way to get together with our barbecue,” he said. “The boys are great in that part, trying to find ways to get together as a team to strengthen their ties so that was fantastic.”
Orlando City face a grueling gauntlet of six games in 16 days beginning with Saturday’s match with the New York Red Bulls (4:30 pm EST, FOX). While Pareja has been forced to rotate the team throughout this truncated season to keep them fresh for the stretch run, the coaching staff has also had to keep the squad from getting mentally exhausted from the constant two-game weeks.
Pareja brought his usual wider perspective to the discussion.
“That’s one of the most difficult parts of this job,” said Pareja. “Normally what I say to them and what I share every morning is to be grateful about the opportunity that we have to work, the opportunity that we have to compete, to belong to a team, to have our families healthy. Then when you think about those things and you’re being grateful, somehow there's some sort of energy that comes back to you.
“It’s a happiness and that will inspire you to do your job again. It’s tough because this game is so physical and it heats you, but the players understand their responsibility and we will try to keep them fresh and sharp.”
Through 14 of 23 games, Pareja has the Lions looking like a team that’s dialed in. Orlando City are on a club-record eight-game unbeaten streak and sit well above the playoff line and inside the East’s top 4 with nine games remaining. With six weeks to go until Decision Day, Pareja is not planning on letting up.
“What I’m expecting is for us to get the most points we can...we will keep the pace that we have had so far,” said Pareja. “It will be great, it’s going to be tough. Wednesday, weekend, Wednesday, weekend, but the responsibility is just to keep adding points, I don’t see it any other way."
