Orlando City SC Head Coach Oscar Pareja
Opening Statement
“The feeling is that we could have, or we should have, gotten the three points here in Charlotte. We paid the price for our distractions on those two goals, and there was much more on our responsibilities on a couple of duties there that we had to control. Then, we needed to push in many different ways to find that equalizer and try to get the winning goal, but it was not enough. I thought we accomplished the fact that we tied the game in a very difficult scenario for us losing 2-0 away. Credit to the players that never gave up on that intention. We take this point, there are some things that we still should have done better, but it will tell us in the next two games at home if we get those results that this point will be valuable.”
On Rafael Santos and his performance
“I think we unlocked the team with his movements. We wanted to see different connections on the left when we lined up Martin [Ojeda], Ramiro [Enrique], Luis [Muriel] and I think we were very aggressive with the way we lined up the group. I really think that we should have had much more volume and in the first half we didn’t have what we were pursuing. Then bringing Rafa in during the second half, I think immediately everyone got back into the confidence and into the better spots. We looked much more like a dangerous team, and we produced much more forward and we created more options. Naturally those two goals came, Rafael helped us a lot.”
On Marco Pašalić and his performance
“Marco really demonstrates the quality and the frequency and the consistency that we are asking for from the players. I think Marco has been on the scoreboard very frequently for us and I am delighted to see how he adapts to the league and our squad that quickly. It is probably the best of the foreign players that we have brought to the team. I am so happy for him. He is a great person and a great footballer. Today, he showed up again so we are happy for him and for the group.”
Orlando City SC Midfielder Eduard Atuesta
Opening Statement
“We are a little bit sad because we think right now, we had that feeling that we almost won the game. We had the opportunity there to maybe go home with the three points, but also, it was a very good reaction in the second half by my teammates. I am very proud of my team.”
On the response from the team
“We thought at the moment [we gave up that second goal], we had time, and we had the energy to win the game. That is why right now we have that feeling that almost [we should have won the game]. It was a very good reaction and now at this point we have to go home and play those two games we have in Orlando and make this game more important with wins in those games.”
On breaking down opposing defense
“I think they played a very good first half tactically. The chances that they had, they scored. I think in the second half, when we knew what to do to make them soften a little bit more, we did it. Almost we won the three points. Very proud of my teammates because it was not easy losing 2-0 and then draw the game like that. It is good to have the feeling that we almost won the game.”
