ORLANDO, Fla. -- Never get too high on your highs or low on your lows.
That is the mentality that Orlando City head coach Oscar Pareja is employing for his squad following the Lions' 2-0 loss to Nashville SC on Saturday night at Exploria Stadium.
“We cannot lose our heads,” he said. “We were not the best team in the league after we beat Philadelphia. We're not the worst tonight either. We have to keep our heads up.”
Pareja and the Lions are still looking to find that consistency within the team that has eluded them early in the season. Following a good performance on the road against Philadelphia, the team could not replicate their offensive output against a stingy Nashville defense, that currently sits best in the league in goals allowed.
“The games get decided on two areas,” Pareja said, “Offensively were sharp in Philadelphia. We were better when we had those changes. Here when we had it, we couldn't. Instead we allowed them to get in behind of us and the play that is very typical for them. We were conscious about it, it's not a surprise that they sit and then they try to get in behind of and they did.”
That message of finding a rhythm is also understood by the players. Defender Kyle Smith, who is in his fifth year with the club, recognizes that the process of building that consistency can sometimes take time.
“It's a process. It's a long season,” Smith said. “There's a lot of new players on the team and we need to be at our best as the season progresses, and tonight is like a learning experience. Every loss or win, you should learn from and try to progress as a team. So that way, you're just putting one foot in front of the next and by the end of the year you're running on all cylinders.”
As the team continues into the month of April, Pareja and his staff will look to take the next week to work on building more of that consistency, especially with a full two weeks in between games.
“The season is early,” Pareja said. “We don't feel good now, just losing two games at home and out in front of our people, but we are professionals and we just keep moving forward.”
Orlando City will be back in action on Saturday, April 15 as they travel to Minnesota United. Kickoff for that match is set for 8:30 pm ET on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
