KISSIMMEE, Fla. — For Orlando City midfielder Eduard Atuesta, Saturday's trip to BMO Stadium is more than just another road game. The Colombian midfielder spent six seasons with Los Angeles Football Club, from the club's inaugural 2018 season through 2021, and again in 2024. Now, for the first time since departing, he returns to the place where he built his MLS legacy, this time wearing purple.
"LA was my home for a long time," Atuesta said following training at Orlando Health Training Ground at Osceola Heritage Park. "They know the love that I have for that club, for the people there. They showed me love every time that I was there playing. So I just feel gratitude for that team, for those people."
But sentiment only goes so far when there's a result on the line. Atuesta, now in his second season with Orlando City, knows that it's going to be very different when he steps on the pitch this Saturday night.
"Of course, my job is here in Orlando. It's my home now, and I think I feel that respect for that team, because I always gave my 100% there, the same as here," Atuesta said. "It's going to be good to visit friends, play in that stadium, and of course, a good challenge for us in this new journey that we started."
It's a journey that has been rocky to start the 2026 season for the Lions. The team arrives in Los Angeles off a 5-0 defeat to Nashville SC on the road two weeks prior, and the team is still adjusting under new leadership after Head Coach Oscar Pareja mutually parted ways with the Club. Interim Head Coach Martín Perelman, who has taken the reins, said that the week off thanks to the international window has been a welcome reset.
"It was awesome to have some time to train, to practice. We really needed it," Perelman said. "Great job by the staff and the players. The effort of the players and their attitude is awesome. We are so happy with them."
The Lions were without several players during the international break due to call-ups. Marco Pašalic didn't go very far, playing both games for Croatia in Orlando, while Maxime Crépeau started in Canada's second match, holding a clean sheet in a scoreless draw. Braian Ojeda started Paraguay's latest match, playing 57 minutes in the team's match against Morocco.
Defender and captain Robin Jansson, has been working back from a fractured foot and has started making headway, getting back to training, while midfielder Joran Gerbet continues his recovery from an ACL injury, and Wilder Cartagena works his way back from a thigh injury he picked up on opening night.
"Losing one player is always hard. Losing more than one is even harder," Perelman said of the injuries. "What I can say is that we are proud of the roster we have. We are proud of the effort of our players, and we prepare all of them to be ready for the moment they have the opportunity. Every time one of our injured players comes back, we are so happy. Robin is an important player for us, and not only for us, for everyone here in Orlando. We need all of them. We need to recover players, and we are happy when they are back with us."
Atuesta, who himself returned from injury recently, echoed the growing sense of confidence within the group. "Now that I can help, I feel with more confidence, and I think the team is feeling the same," he said. "It's going to be a good challenge for us."
Standing in their way is an LAFC side that enters Matchday 6 as the Western Conference's best team. Under new head coach Marc Dos Santos, the Black & Gold have gone unbeaten through their first five matches, recording an MLS-record 450 consecutive scoreless minutes to open a season.
"Right now, they are different," he said. "Nashville shows power in their attack. LAFC, they show that they are just as strong a team defensively. They didn't score a lot of goals, but they didn't concede either. That's why they are there. We have to be focused, because they have good players."
For Perelman and the coaching staff, the focus following that match at Nashville has kept the scope looking inward, rather than LAFC. For him, the important thing is to take care of themselves first and foremost. "We are focused on our team, on our game model, on our topics. We got a lot of work to do there," he said. "We know we face a good team, top players, and we will be ready for that. But again, we are focused mainly on our team."
Kickoff at BMO Stadium is set for Saturday, April 4, at 9:30 p.m. ET. The match will be available to stream on Apple TV.
