It’s been an exciting couple of weeks for Leonardo Pereira. On Wednesday night, Pereira earned his first start with the MLS squad while they were on the road in San Jose. The team earned a draw, and Head Coach Jason Kreis was so impressed with Pereira’s performance that he started him again in Sunday’s match against New York City FC.
Pereira is originally from Brazil, and played for Série A club Atlético Paranaense before being loaned to Orlando City B for the 2017 season. His journey highlights the partnership between Atlético Paranaense and Orlando City, and also the strengths in the relationship between Orlando City’s MLS and USL squads.
For Pereira, Orlando City B was critical to a smooth transition between the world of Brazilian soccer and soccer in the United States. “It’s a little bit different, the style of play here and the style of play in Brazil. So, it has helped me to take small steps and not huge ones at the beginning,” Pereira said. “The coaches as well from the B team have helped me adapt to the style and my teammates. It was a very good experience for me.”
Prior to his appearance against the San Jose Earthquakes, Kreis admitted that he wasn’t sure what Pereira was capable of bringing to the squad. After the match, Kreis said that he felt he had “gained two players” in Pereira and PC, who also made his debut on Wednesday night. Pereira is happy to have his coach’s trust and the opportunity to improve his game.
“I’m very happy that I gained his confidence and I’m trying to improve my game, every game, doing what he asked me to do-- pressuring, playing hard,” Pereira said. “I’m very happy right now, and just trying to get better and better.”
Pereira’s goals for the season are not small. He intends to continue to fight for a spot on the MLS roster-- and hopefully, help bring a championship to this city.
“I want to keep playing for the remainder of the season and get a championship,” Pereira said. It’s not just about the championships Pereira said (although those are nice too). It’s about showing the country what this city is about and what this team is capable of. That is his goal for the season.
“Just keep playing and improve,” Pereira said. “Show how great Orlando is.”
