Lion Links: 6/14/24

Happy Friday! I’m working for most of this weekend but am still looking forward to the absurd amount of soccer ahead of us. Both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride have games Saturday, and the 2024 Euros should give us some exciting matches from teams we don’t watch all too often. Let’s dive right into today’s links!

Orlando City Prepares for LAFC

The international break is over and Orlando City is back in action Saturday night for a home game against LAFC. It’s been a difficult season for the Lions so far, and they have been shut out in three of their past five games. Points have been hard to come by at home for Orlando and a match against one of the best teams in the Western Conference won’t make that any easier. With David Brekalo at the Euros, Rodrigo Schlegel is expected to start and it would be his 100th MLS appearance. Ramiro Enrique would also make his 50th appearance across all competitions as a Lion should he take the field.

Lions Linked Reportedly Bow Out of Bid to Sign Defender Alan Saldivia

With the MLS summer transfer window looming, a rumor surfaced of Orlando City making an offer to sign Uruguayan center back Alan Saldivia from Colo-Colo in Chile. The Lions reportedly offered $1.5 million for the 22-year-old, but that doesn’t reach the $2.2 million Colo-Colo wants at minimum. The Lions reportedly would not go higher. While center back isn’t exactly a pressing need for the Lions at this time, Saldivia would have given the team a young and talented player who could anchor the defense for years to come.

Orlando City B Drops Points in Disappointing Draw

OCB hosted Chattanooga FC and had to settle for a 2-2 draw after giving up a lead not once, but twice. The Young Lions had Chattanooga on the ropes late in the match, taking the lead just before the end of normal time, only to get punched in the mouth in stoppage time and then lose the penalty shootout. It was the second straight 2-2 draw at home for the Young Lions and they’re still on the hunt for their first win this month. OCB’s next game will be on the road against New York City FC II on Wednesday.

Getting Ready for the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs

The MLS NEXT Cup playoffs kick off Saturday as the best teams across four age groups compete in a knockout format. Orlando City’s U-15 squad was recognized as one of the title contenders in its age group and will take on Real Salt Lake in the round of 32 on Saturday . The team also did well in MLS NEXT Flex, and Jakob Garcia, who has scored 18 goals in 21 games, is the kind of attacker who can make all the difference in knockout matches. Orlando’s U-17 team is capable of making a run as well, although it faces a tough first match on Sunday against the Philadelphia Union, which won the 2024 Generation Adidas Cup. It should be a fun tournament, and hopefully Orlando’s teams can advance far enough to be included in the games streamed on MLS Season Pass.

Free Kicks

• Carl Robinson is back in MLS after Atlanta United hired him as an assistant coach. The 47-year-old played for Toronto FC and the New York Red Bulls to close out his playing career and also served as the head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps.
• Chicago Fire Designated Player Xherdan Shaqiri reportedly wants to return to Europe. The 32-year-old has been with the Fire since 2022 but hasn’t lived up to his billing and his contract is set to expire after this season.

• The Washington Spirit have signed Manchester City defender Esme Morgan to a four-year deal.
• American left back Antonee Robinson was selected as Fulham’s Player of the Season after a strong year in the English Premier League.
• An antitrust lawsuit filed against MLS and the United States Soccer Federation can go to trial after a federal judge denied a motion of summary judgment. The North American Soccer League filed the lawsuit seven years ago after it lost its Division 2 designation.
• Real Madrid is reportedly interested in signing Canadian left back Alphonso Davies from Bayern Munich.
• Australian striker Sam Kerr will be sticking around in England after signing a two-year contract extension with Chelsea.
• AC Milan hired Paulo Fonseca to replace Stefano Pioli as the team’s next head coach.
• Edin Terzic stepped down as Borussia Dortmund’s manager after a season that included a runner-up finish in the Champions League and fifth place in the Bundesliga.
• Manchester United reportedly wants Erik Ten Hag to have less of a role in transfers in the future.
• Atletico Madrid forward Alvaro Morata spoke on the difficulties he and his family have had while he’s played in Spain due to abuse from fans.
• According to his agent, Jamaican winger Leon Bailey won’t participate in Copa America despite being called up.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!