Orlando City head coach Oscar Pareja, defender Mikey Halliday and forward Gastón González give their thoughts following Wednesday's 1-1 draw vs NYCFC.
Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja
Overall thoughts on the game
“I have to start with the feeling that we all have after having the game that close and having the urgency to win it, but not being able to do it. Also, I have to recognize the effort of the players and I cannot be blind to what they did in the game and need to highlight it. It is a difficult thing to swallow right now, but a lot of things happened as well that make us feel like we are getting back to that team that we are. We will stay with our balance and our minds fresh because the turnaround is quick. I am here responsible for anything, and the players made a big effort today and I have to stay with it too.”
On the first 15 minutes of the match compared to the rest of the game
“I thought it was a game that was very clear for both teams. Even with the first 20 minutes when we imposed our freedom and played very well. The humidity and the heat and the proximity of the game told us we just needed to keep the ball and let them run. If we turned the ball over to them really quickly, they would do the same. It was the demands of the game as to who could keep it longer and have clear sequences longer. The game was there. I think for moments we let them have it too long and that is why we ended up being in the lower block, not because we wanted to but because we gave the ball away. They used it and we defended well until that one goal.”
On the thoughts of where the team is in the standings
“I think the question is clear and with the answer also. I think we are where we are in the standings. I don’t think the standings lie to us. We are just trying to push and be that team we can be at two or three spots higher in the standings. We are not scoring many goals and wasting opportunities, but also, we have done things that give us hope. We are not going to give up and we are going to keep it. We are a good team, and we have good players and other teams in the league are pretty much in the same spot. We want more. We want more, but we don’t want to just throw everything outside, we are going to keep going.”
Orlando City Defender Mikey Halliday
On the first 15 minutes of the first half compared to the last 20 minutes of the second half
“It was a good start. Early goals are always big. Just as a team we need to learn to capitalize on getting another goal to shut the game down. Not letting them have the ball too much, keeping possession and just driving and finally getting a goal. It’s frustrating but it’s something to work on.”
On the frustration with capitalizing on turnovers and giving up a last-minute goal
“I wouldn't say frustrating. I mean, at times it could be if it's like a transitional moment and you're running back but you got to try and break teams down. You can't just play kickball it is just not the way we should or want to play. If it doesn't work, you just kind of keep trying to get to a point but to give up a goal for 89 minutes, I mean it's kind of a gut punch. Yes, it's frustrating. Now we move on now but something to learn from and we can't let it get to that point next time.”
On getting where they need to be as a team
“I find we are there, just like tonight we should win this game, 100 percent, all my teammates and I would agree with that. We're there, we have the quality. We have the people to do it. We will get that.”
Orlando City Forward Gastón González
On his thoughts on the end of the game
“You know, I think there's a lot of things that went on in that game. We did many great things throughout the game for different footballing reasons. We couldn't get that last one to put us over the top, and then they could tie up. It is a feeling that we think we lost two points today.”
On what he saw on the buildup to Kara’s goal and how the team was able to execute
“Yeah, it was something that we continue to work on constantly. And it's something that we really worked on in training this week. To have the ball played from Robin out to the left and to have that combination work with Facu [Torres] out on the left wing, and then have an end in a cross and thankfully, it came off well from my foot and Kara was able to finish it in the best manner.”
On recovering from an injury and getting more consistency on the field
“Yeah, I think in the previous months when I told you that it was still something where I wasn't getting selected all that much and I wasn't able to find that much of a rhythm. But now I think as I'm getting selected more and more, I'm able to get more into that rhythm with the team and I'm feeling good.”
