It’s going to be a somewhat new-look Inter Miami team when they face Orlando City in the second-ever matchup between Florida clubs. The main reason why: New starting defender Leandro Gonzalez Pirez will make his debut for the club (8 p.m. ET on ESPN+ in USA; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada).
Gonzalez Pirez previously starred in MLS for Atlanta United and helped them an MLS Cup in 2018. He said that his hope is to help Inter Miami fine-tune the minor details that he feels has cost them in the five-game losing streak to start the season.
He might also be a good luck charm. In a pregame session with the media, he pointed out that he’s still undefeated against Orlando City (7W-0L-1D).
“I’ve had the personal fortune to never lose against Orlando. I’ve never lost a game against them,” Gonzalez-Pirez reiterated. “We hope to continue that streak and get a win which would be great for the spirit of the team and that I can continue my undefeated streak against them. Hopefully everything lines up for us to get a great result.”
The addition of the center back will obviously add athleticism, toughness and defensive solidity. But Inter Miami manager Diego Alonso pointed out that he actually also helps in the attack because “he can play well with the ball when it comes time to attacking and getting rid of the ball.”
“As soon as he came in and was part of the group [in Orlando at MLS is Back] he’s someone you know as a leader and has had a successful career and has won trophies,” said teammate Lewis Morgan. “Having that winning mentality at the club is only going to help. … That’s the culture we want to build here. We want to build a successful team and having players who are so used to success can only be a positive.”
Orlando City, finalists at the MLS is Back Tournament, are traveling to South Florida to play spoilers in Inter Miami’s first-ever home game. Lions manager Oscar Pareja is looking for his team to continue with the protagonism they showed throughout their tournament run when they imposed their style in all seven matches, including the loss in the final. It was a tournament that helped begin to change the narrative around an Orlando City team that has failed to make the postseason in its first five seasons in MLS.
“Despite the good or bad results, we want this franchise to be recognized as one that plays good soccer. And we’d like to carry that out,” Pareja said before the match.
“The players are very motivated. They want to keep proving to themselves, to the fans and to all that we’re a good team, that we’re growing, that we know where we are and that we have a plan,” Pareja said. “And that this team needs to aim for the best, not just qualifying for the playoffs but we want to be in the final again and win it … The players are convinced they can do it. It’s a long journey.”
Pareja said he’s expecting a Miami side that will bring the intensity come Saturday, a reflection of their fiery Uruguayan manager Diego Alonso whom Pareja calls a friend. He has experience facing Alonso’s sides dating back to the head-to-head matchup between FC Dallas (Pareja) and Pachuca (Alonso) in the 2017 Concacaf Champions League semifinals. Pachuca eeked out a 4-3 aggregate goal series win at the time, but Pareja won the two matchups since: their only Liga MX meeting when Pareja led Club Tijuana and Alonso managed Monterrey (1-0) and the MLS is Back Tournament opener (2-1).
Although Inter Miami are still looking for their first MLS point after five straight losses, Alonso has a similar grand vision for Inter Miami.
“We continue to make adjustments and we have new players coming in like Leandro Gonzalez Pirez and [Blaise] Matuidi and in the future maybe more new players can come in who can help take steps forward to build a great future,” Alonso said.
“We have dreams of what we’re doing here in the future: to build a team that is the winningest in MLS and that’s why I’m here,” Alonso continued. “I’m not going to take that out of my head and I’m not going to rest until we accomplish that. Until we win MLS Cup and the Concacaf Champions League I’m not going to rest.”
