Orlando City SC Head Coach Oscar Pareja
Opening Statement
“On behalf of the players and coaches, we want to share our gratitude with the fans. It was great to see the stadium filled up. The game had two different stories. The first half was probably the worst we have played in our time here in Orlando. No excuses. Red Bull New York played better than us in the first half and we should have contained more balls. In the second half, we changed the dynamics and the attitude. We changed many things: how we covered space, our willingness to attack, along with other details that brought us back into the game. Unfortunately, we couldn't score, but it gave us more chances to equalize. As I said, there were two different sides to the game. The first half was terrible and the second was much better. That gives us the sense that we could have done more, but we also can’t hide from what happened in the first half.”
On Nolan Miller and Iago’s performances
“Nolan [Miller] helped us. He has had a very good preseason. Iago has been accommodating as well to our system. It could probably be my fault, rushing him into the squad in a league that is very different and brings a lot of dynamics, speed and all those things. He has it, of course, but it is all in the mind. Maybe it is me rushing him. He has the quality; he has the talent. Nolan did a great job in the second half. It is great to see him with personality. I think he took the position like he has played many games there, so it was good to see him.”
On his tactical adjustments
“I want you guys to know, Iván [Angulo] does not negotiate at all. He played in another position, and when we asked him to play as an interior and let [Tyrese] Spicer occupy those spaces behind the central box or between the center back and the fullback, he did a good job. One of them created some damage there for the routine, but the two of them did a great job bringing us back into the game.”
Orlando City SC Defender Griffin Dorsey
Opening Statement
“As a team, we started a little slow in the first half and I think everyone could see it. I can only speak for myself, but from the start it just needs to be better. We need to start more on the front foot and I think we saw a lot of positives in the second half when we put them under pressure.”
On adjusting quickly to a new environment
“I think it is part of the profession. It is challenging to get to know new teammates and a new environment, but I still think that as a team, including myself, we could have started better tonight, especially in the home opener in front of the fans. We just need to be better from the start.”
On the performance
“You can boil it down to the aggressiveness we talked about. In the first half, they came out with more aggression, and in the second half, we came out with that aggression. It's about figuring out how we can be on the front foot, especially at home against these teams for 90 plus minutes.”\\
Orlando City SC Defender Nolan Miller
Opening Statement
“Frustrating. The result was not what we were expecting, but there are positives to take from it. It is hard to see that in the moment, but through everything there are positives and the second half at least brought life back into the stadium and to the players. It is something to build on going into the game with Miami next week, but frustrating is a fair word to use.”
On making his professional debut
“Before anything, I would like to thank God. Having the opportunity to come from college to here and play in this beautiful stadium with a supportive staff like Oscar [Pareja], I could not ask for much more and that is all thanks to the man above. At halftime, Oscar said, ‘Get ready, you are going in.’ He gave me words of encouragement and some tactical instruction and then just said, ‘Go play, kid. Go play.’"
On what went through his mind coming into the match
“I was just focused on owning my role, coming into the second half and making a difference. Like all the other guys who came in during the second half, it is about making a difference. It is about bringing a spark to the game because that is what it needed. That was my only thought. The moment you are thinking too much, you are doing too much. Don't think too much. Just be yourself and play. When the second half kickoff came, I was looking around like, wow, what an opportunity for myself. I couldn't be more grateful to be here in Orlando surrounded by these fans and this crowd. It was surreal for me.”\\
