Orlando City Coach’s Show Recap: Heath Talks End of Season, NYCFC

On this week’s Orlando City Coach’s Show with Adrian Heath, the Lions’ head coach discusses Orlando City’s chase for the playoffs, focus during the off-season, and the upcoming game with New York City FC, among other aspects of Orlando City SC.

Team Mentality

"The training we've had on Monday is probably the best we've had all season."

Chances of Making the Playoffs

“If we can win this game on Friday, I honestly believe that the New England Revolution will beat Montreal on Saturday and then we’ll take it to the final game.”

"It all comes down to ourselves on Friday night and we've got to get a result."

What is Needed for Next Season

"We need more depth in the squad."

"We've all learned a lot of lessons this year and will take it into next."

"We've had three or four games where the performances were unacceptable and we have to cut them errors out."

"When we've had heavy defeats this year, we've invariably had one man sent off which doesn't help. So that's something else we have to address moving on."

Memorable Moments in Club History

“Probably the 2011 final when we had Miguel Gallardo sent off so early on. And then we played so long with 10 men and then Lawrence Olum scores so late and you think you’ve won it. And then they score with virtually the last kick of the game. And then we go to extra time and the penalty shootout. It was an incredible evening.”

"That was one of the turning points of the club."

Memorable Personalities

"I think you look back to the people who have contributed so much to what we tried to build. I think of Miguel Gallardo straight away. I think of Jamie Watson. Rob Valentino who has just come back to us in a coaching capacity. I think of Gio (Alvarez). I think of Lawrence Olum. We've had some really good people."

Forever a Lion: Orlando City Alumni Association

"The history of football clubs is what makes them. There's a lot of people who've done a lot of hard work before we arrived. We just revived it and we came at the right time."

Brek Shea Call-Up

"The fact that Brek's not available (against NYCFC) this game will do him good."

Rafael Ramos and Tommy Redding

"It doesn't look as though Rafa and Tommy are going to recover from their clash of heads in time for the weekend."

Losing Players to Internationals

"Bottom line is if they want to take him they can. If it's a FIFA mandated game, the only way you can get away with it is if the player says I don't want to go. Then the player faces the consequences of turning his national team down."

Replacing Rafael Ramos

"The last game we played Brek (Shea) over there. Do we move Bodz over there and play Corey (Ashe) at left back? Do we play somebody else at right back? Ashe'll certainly come into the equation at the weekend because it certainly doesn't look like Rafa will be available."

Finishing Position

"I want to finish above New York City as much as anybody."

Defending David Villa

"If we give David Villa a yard in the box Friday night, the ball's going to end up in the back of the net. Still probably one of the best moving off ball people there is in the game. So we're going to have to mark him very tightly."

NYCFC vs Orlando City

"I remember at the league offices when we walked through the door and virtually nobody looked up and saw we were there. And then they come in and they get a standing ovation from everybody in the MLS offices. We remembered that."