Entering his seventh season as head coach of Orlando City, Oscar Pareja is looking forward to a season with better results with the Lions. This comes after a disappointing end to last season, which saw Orlando only win once in its last 10 games in all competitions before a humiliating and early playoff exit in the wild card game. The offseason followed, and it saw several longtime and familiar faces leave the team as new players made way. With a new season underway, and the expectations to return to championship-style soccer all but there, Pareja wasn’t remissive on the pressure that’s going to be placed on him once the regular season kicks off. “I have been competing since I was 17. I don’t remember a year where I didn’t feel the same sensation that if I don’t perform, I should be out or I will lose my job,” Pareja told reporters during the team’s first preseason training session on Monday. “But I have a job, I’m here and the players and we’re going to work. That pressure is normal, there are other times where we achieve more objectives and everybody is happy.” “We’re committed with this group and with the club and players and we have energy to push, but the day that we don’t have that energy, nobody needs to push me out, I’ll get out myself,” added Pareja. Pareja’s blunt remarks come as somewhat of a surprise, but it’s understandable. On the surface, things appeared to be going gradual the last four years following the 2022 U.S. Open Cup win. In 2023, Orlando finished in second place in the Supporters’ Shield standings and in 2024, the team made it to the Eastern Conference final. The 2025 season did see Orlando make it to the Leagues Cup semifinals, but ultimately the Lions suffered a loss in the third-place game against an underwhelming Los Angeles Galaxy before performances on the field spiraled the team into the wild card game of the playoffs. Longtime players such as Pedro Gallese, Cesar Araujo, Rodrigo Schlegel were moved on in the winter. And team general manager and sporting director Ricardo Moreira has so far reloaded the team with winger Tiago Souza and midfielder Luis Otavio to U-22 Initiative deals while signing free agent goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau. Still, there are several roster holes that need filling, and Pareja did not hold back on wanting to add more players to the team ahead of the season opener. “I always want more players… and better ones, and they probably want a better coach, too,” Pareja told reporters. “We always want better. The owners and directors could probably answer differently but every time I’m asked for players, we want more. The group is here, and we’re going to prepare. We’re optimistic, and we will make sure to work hard enough to accomplish those things.” Quick kicksMarco Pasalic was at the training facility but remained indoors to get medically cleared to train. Luis Muriel did not report to Monday’s preseason training, but WESH 2 understands the team is working on transferring the player out with Colombian club Juniors reportedly the destination for the Designated Player forward. Brazilian midfielder Luis Otavio is still waiting on authorized paperwork before he can travel and join Orlando. Orlando’s five draft picks did train and were visibly present: Harvey Sarajian, Nolan Miller, Jaylen Yearwood, Issah Haruna, Mitch Ferguson. Wilder Cartagena is fully integrated into the team’s practice following an Achilles Heel injury that sidelined him all of 2025. Martin Ojeda said he found it strange going into today’s practice and not seeing former teammates Pedro Gallese and Rodrigo Schlegel present. Both players left the team during the offseason. Monday’s training session saw Orlando City B players get into the mix.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. —

Entering his seventh season as head coach of Orlando City, Oscar Pareja is looking forward to a season with better results with the Lions.

This comes after a disappointing end to last season, which saw Orlando only win once in its last 10 games in all competitions before a humiliating and early playoff exit in the wild card game.

The offseason followed, and it saw several longtime and familiar faces leave the team as new players made way.

With a new season underway, and the expectations to return to championship-style soccer all but there, Pareja wasn’t remissive on the pressure that’s going to be placed on him once the regular season kicks off.

“I have been competing since I was 17. I don’t remember a year where I didn’t feel the same sensation that if I don’t perform, I should be out or I will lose my job,” Pareja told reporters during the team’s first preseason training session on Monday. “But I have a job, I’m here and the players and we’re going to work. That pressure is normal, there are other times where we achieve more objectives and everybody is happy.”

“We’re committed with this group and with the club and players and we have energy to push, but the day that we don’t have that energy, nobody needs to push me out, I’ll get out myself,” added Pareja.

Pareja’s blunt remarks come as somewhat of a surprise, but it’s understandable.

On the surface, things appeared to be going gradual the last four years following the 2022 U.S. Open Cup win. In 2023, Orlando finished in second place in the Supporters’ Shield standings and in 2024, the team made it to the Eastern Conference final.

The 2025 season did see Orlando make it to the Leagues Cup semifinals, but ultimately the Lions suffered a loss in the third-place game against an underwhelming Los Angeles Galaxy before performances on the field spiraled the team into the wild card game of the playoffs.

Longtime players such as Pedro Gallese, Cesar Araujo, Rodrigo Schlegel were moved on in the winter. And team general manager and sporting director Ricardo Moreira has so far reloaded the team with winger Tiago Souza and midfielder Luis Otavio to U-22 Initiative deals while signing free agent goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau.

Still, there are several roster holes that need filling, and Pareja did not hold back on wanting to add more players to the team ahead of the season opener.

“I always want more players… and better ones, and they probably want a better coach, too,” Pareja told reporters. “We always want better. The owners and directors could probably answer differently but every time I’m asked for players, we want more. The group is here, and we’re going to prepare. We’re optimistic, and we will make sure to work hard enough to accomplish those things.”

Quick kicks

Marco Pasalic was at the training facility but remained indoors to get medically cleared to train.

Luis Muriel did not report to Monday’s preseason training, but WESH 2 understands the team is working on transferring the player out with Colombian club Juniors reportedly the destination for the Designated Player forward.

Brazilian midfielder Luis Otavio is still waiting on authorized paperwork before he can travel and join Orlando.

Orlando’s five draft picks did train and were visibly present: Harvey Sarajian, Nolan Miller, Jaylen Yearwood, Issah Haruna, Mitch Ferguson.

Wilder Cartagena is fully integrated into the team’s practice following an Achilles Heel injury that sidelined him all of 2025.

Martin Ojeda said he found it strange going into today’s practice and not seeing former teammates Pedro Gallese and Rodrigo Schlegel present. Both players left the team during the offseason.

Monday’s training session saw Orlando City B players get into the mix.