With a little over two months left in the regular season, Orlando City is setting its eyes on the playoffs. Right now, the Lions are on the cusp of taking that sixth and final spot. Currently, they are tied for points with the New England Revolution in the Eastern Conference. Every win makes a difference and brings the team one step closer to their ultimate goal.
âWe need more frequency of good games,â KakĂĄ said after training on Thursday. âI think we played very good against New England, and we didnât play so good against Seattle⌠I think we need to figure out how to make more games like New England.â
In training, KakĂĄ and his teammates are still learning the philosophy and tactics of Head Coach Jason Kreis. Training sessions are long, especially during this hot Florida summer, but KakĂĄ says it is what the men need to be successful. âItâs long, but itâs necessary,â KakĂĄ said. âThese things need to be automatic.â
The team isnât focusing on improving one specific area, but rather improving their play as a whole. KakĂĄ said the team was working on learning some new things on defense and some new aspects of their attacking game. The goal is to create more dominance on the field-- as KakĂĄ said, more games like New England.
âJust understand the right philosophy that Jason wants to do here,â KakĂĄ said. âUnderstand it and do it.â
Orlando Cityâs road to the playoffs continues this weekend, as the team travels to take on the Chicago Fire. The Fire are ranked last in the Eastern Conference, and have only won two of their last ten games. But any team can win on any day, and Orlando City knows they will need to be focused in order to win.
For now, Orlando City will not let their mentality be dominated by the playoffs. Instead, they will continue to focus on each individual game. âWe are preparing ourselves for this game,â KakĂĄ insisted. Still, looking at the road ahead, KakĂĄ feels confident that his team can implement the strategies that will lead them to victory.
âWe have two important games on the road,â KakĂĄ said. âGood games to play and good games to win.â