After training on Wednesday, Antonio Nocerino spoke briefly about the team’s hopes for improving next year. An integral part to that improvement is the team’s new stadium, which will debut at the start of the next MLS season. Nocerino believes that the team will get better simply from having a better atmosphere and a place to call home.
“We have an incredible opportunity in the new stadium,” Nocerino said. “We need a massive mentality change, which has been happening. Something big we’re gonna look at is these home games where we can’t afford to drop points. We need to win at home. And as I said, the opportunity with the new stadium will provide us the platform for that. And we need to make our home ground essentially a fort. It needs to be a fort for us.”
Nocerino knows that the new stadium will be a great place for Orlando City to play. But he also wants it to be a place that other team’s fear-- Nocerino knows to never underestimate the power of a crowd to sway the momentum of the match.
“For other teams, they need to come here with a fear factor,” Nocerino said. “They need to come here and see that it’s a hot stadium, this is our home. This is where we win, where teams are afraid to approach. And that’s why I said, we need to change our mentality. We need to play aggressively and make this a fortress.”
As for Nocerino himself, he feels hopeful for next year. With an MLS season now finished, he feels like he understands the Orlando City community and he feels that he has a stronger relationship with the coaching staff.
“Next year is gonna be even better,” Nocerino said. “Personally I feel a lot better, I understand the culture better and I understand how things work, and I have the coach’s confidence and his belief. So, I understand exactly what I need to do, what I need to be doing, and next year will be better.”
Orlando City will play their final match in Camping World Stadium this Sunday, October 23rd at 4:00pm against D.C. United.
