They said it: Oscar Pareja and Ramiro Enrique share their thoughts after loss to the New York Red Bulls

 

Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja

Opening Statement

“It was a challenging night for our team offensively. We executed many aspects of our game plan well, controlling our operations and sequences as intended. However, we faltered in our efficiency in the final third. This lack of effectiveness led to conceding a goal on an uncharacteristic play, which was disappointing. We aim to address these shortcomings, regroup, and make necessary adjustments during the upcoming international break.”

On converting created opportunities into goals

“During the game, we are exploring solutions to convert our chances into goals. One approach is assessing whether our current structure allows for sufficient involvement of our center backs. Additionally, we need to ensure that we have enough players making attacking runs to capitalize on these opportunities. This effort requires a collective contribution from both the coaching staff and players to maximize our potential in creating goal-scoring chances. While the players are actively working on this, we acknowledge the need to improve our conversion rate, which remains a work in progress.”

On strategies to improve results

“At this juncture, we are focused on optimizing our structure to empower players to perform at their best levels. This responsibility falls on the coaching staff, and I fully embrace this role. We are continually evaluating our strategies over the past five games, considering adjustments to our structure as necessary. It is clear that we must explore alternative methods to enhance our performance, particularly in the final third. We are acutely aware of our shortcomings in generating scoring opportunities. The lack of cutting edge in our attacking play has been a source of disappointment. In a competitive environment where small margins can dictate outcomes, it is imperative for us to find ways to be more clinical in front of goal to overturn matches.”

Orlando City SC Forward Ramiro Enrique

Opening Statement

“It’s never easy to address the aftermath of a defeat, but it’s essential to keep moving forward. We are a tightly-knit group, and we understand the importance of lifting our spirits and persisting in our efforts to find our path to success. Personally, I am thrilled to be back on the field after a nearly two-month injury layoff. However, despite my return, today’s result was a disappointment, urging us to regroup and press on.”

On dominating possession during the match

“The match was arduous and demanding, given the playing styles of both teams. The opposition managed to score a crucial goal just before halftime, and I believe that lack of composure hindered our ability to create goal-scoring opportunities throughout the game. We acknowledge that there are numerous fixtures remaining, and our team, characterized by hard work and unity, is committed to persevering and navigating our way back to success.”

On the team’s struggles to convert chances in the match

“I appreciate the well-wishes on my return. As mentioned, the opponents capitalized on a moment to score, highlighting our deficiency in sharpness around the goal area. We lacked the required precision in possession near the opponents’ box, impeding our ability to convert chances into goals. While luck may play a part, we cannot rely solely on it. Our only recourse is to push forward, maintaining our relentless work ethic and dedication, qualities that define this team. We will continue to strive for improvement through hard work and determination.”