Orlando City SC Head Coach Oscar Pareja
Opening Statement
“It's nice to see that we kept our balance defensively. We improved something that has been costing us points in the last three games while not scoring. Getting back to that mode made us feel very good. The game we played in the first half, we had some difficulties finding our spaces, but we were patient until we scored the first one and we knew they were coming on the second one. We will have those spaces naturally and organically they will open for us, and we saw that. The boys understood, they were very responsible with their duties defensively, and offensively we look like we can harm teams and that made us feel good.”
On the shutout at home and breaking the scoreless streak
“Well, first, getting back to the winning mode is healthy for us. We tied three games that were quite difficult, just playing away in Philadelphia and Montréal. But also, the draw here against New York Red Bulls, where we thought we played a good game. Today the need exclusively was to win. Tonight, we needed to add three points and escalate, or at least keep the team in that spot, and we did that job. But now, how we did it is what makes me feel like we keep progressing. We did it in a very solid way. We played well with the ball, and I thought we were patient with the way we were sequencing. We found our spaces very well and we also advanced with dangerous plays, and we were just better. We saw what we wanted today, and that was that we scored. This has happened before, but we didn’t score, and now we scored. Also, as I said earlier, we looked very solid defensively that will make us coaches sleep quieter."
On his changes to the lineup in tonight’s match
“Returning with Eduard [Atuesta], and because of the injury of Joran [Gerbet], just created not just room for these players that were playing frequently with us but also the opportunity to have that feel that he has. that cleanliness, that ability that he has to glue people together and for us an advantage to have that in one player. Then he gave us today that and the clarity that we needed. And Kyle [Smith], you know, we know him, you know him, that player that accommodates himself and accommodates to the service of the team and the position, and he is so respectful with the duties, and disciplined. He and [Eduard] Atuesta today made us better, and allowed him to flow on middle and allowed him to glue the team together while he was that soldier that can be behind him, occupying the spaces so we can have that cohesiveness with the backs and forwards. That moment we saw it, and we have to be quite honest, today César [Araujo] was lined up to play, but because of the family then Kyle in the last minute came on and played a tremendous game.”
Orlando City SC Defender Alex Freeman
Opening Statement
“I feel like obviously we got the clean sheet; I think that's what we aim for every game, and I feel offensively we were dangerous all game. I think we were creating chances and obviously we scored three goals and at the end of the day that's what we needed to do. We need to score goals and we need to be strong defensively. I think overall, the game was very solid, especially since it was a derby. We needed to win and we knew, especially coming off a couple of draws, that we needed to score goals and be able to win and be strong defensively. That's what we were today.”
On the confidence surrounding offensive and defensive balance
“To find that balance, I think is exactly what we need. I feel like we've been strong defensively the past four games and I feel like if you're strong offensively you're going to end up scoring goals, and that's what we did today. I feel like having that balance is going to get us far and get us to our potential that we want to reach.”
On his goal tonight
“When Marco [Pašalić] had the ball, he controlled it and I was eager to run in behind. When Marco passed me that beautiful pass, it was more to see what the defender was going to do, if he was going to really stop or if he was just going to delay. I didn't see anyone in the box and I saw the defender's legs open, so I felt like it was just time for it. I just wanted to put it in the bottom left corner. When his legs opened, I just put it right through and I scored. Then I got to celebrate with Duncan [McGuire].”
Orlando City SC Forward Marco Pašalić
Opening Statement
“I'm happy that we won this game today. After these draws and having difficulty creating chances and scoring goals, I think today was really important. I'm happy that I'm the one who helped the team today, but I would be also happy if somebody else scored today or assisted. The most important thing today was the win, and I am happy that I helped the team do that today.”
On the team’s adjustments offensively
“I think it was the training this week, we worked more on the creation of chances and more on the finishing in practice, because this is what gives us the most confidence in front of goal. We work like a team and we keep our heads together. We spoke and he [Oscar Pareja] told us it's nothing negative; a draw is okay. It's not the best, but better than losing, and we didn't concede goals, this is what’s most important. And when I compare the beginning of the season to now, we are really solid and playing well defensively. And maybe this is a process and needs time, so we had these games to proved that we are defensively really good, and today we showed both.”
On his goal tonight
“To be honest, I feel that we had good pressure and when the ball came my way, I felt that the ball is going to me because the goalkeeper had no other chance to pass the ball anywhere. And it came right to my feet. I didn't stop the ball too well, but then I turned around and saw that nobody was there. I took the ball, and I saw I had no pressure and that I was not so far away from the goal, so then I shot it and finished.”
