Winning or otherwise, Orlando City SC supporters find time to ask, Just what is Oscar Pareja thinking?
The Orlando City SC front office likes how Oscar Papi Pareja thinks much of the time. As New Year’s Eve 2023 neared, the club signed a two-year contract for him to helm the squad through 2025.
His squad this season struggles at times in concentration on the pitch and consistency following what they’ve drilled. They reached the international break in the MLS Eastern Conference in June. Their 16-game record is 4-7-5, fixing them two spots below the line.
Part of Pareja’s coaching style is to react accurately. Early on this 2024 season, he saw that teams using three-defender schemes – or the back-three formation – were causing problems for Orlando. He found during drills with the formation that most of his squad worked the formation well and began using it with some success.
Since taking over Orlando in 2020, Pareja has brought the players to four consecutive Audi MLS Cup Playoffs appearances, two straight appearances in the Concacaf Champions Cup, and the club’s first trophy in the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
He previously helmed Club Tijuana in Liga MX, plus FC Dallas and Colorado Rapids in MLS.
When Pareja’s teams reach their best, they maintain balanced offense and defense. His style is physical attack without taking the foot off the gas on defense.
The Orlando squad this season is still developing their physical attack, creating chances, and setting the ball up for their focused strikers.
He can teach this system to players of every level and skill set, as he proved at Colorado Rapids. When he took over that club was recognized as a squad of unknowns. Yet in two seasons, they reached the playoffs. Many on his Colorado teams had career-best seasons under him.
So once coached up, many differently skilled players can rally and put together a meaningful year with Oscar Pareja.
There’s time. Orlando City SC can, as well.