(Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)

Aug. 26, 2017 at Sylvan Lake Park

HC Jason Kreis

Kreis has seen the same intensity in training this week as he has over the past three weeks.

For me, all of the training sessions in the past three weeks have been just like that. The mentality and the spirit that this group is bringing has been second to none. And I really believe what I say and say what I believe that I think we’re very, very close and have to count ourselves very, very unfortunate. Over the past four or five matches, now, we haven’t picked up a lot more points than we have.

With Kaká’s return to the team after red-card suspension, the Lions will have returned a captain as they lose one.

Midfielder Will Johnson suffered an ankle sprain that will sideline him for two to four weeks, according to a report by the Orlando Sentinel’s Alicia DelGallo.

Well first you’ve made a large assumption about whether or not they’ll play together, but the three players are special players. The two players that we’ve added in Dom [Dwyer] and Yoshi [Yotún]—we feel very good about as well as Dillon Powers. We feel that all the three additions that we made this transfer window are quality players that will benefit us both in the short term and in the long term. But if those three players happen to play together, I think that they can be difference-makers, no doubt.

Kreis has spoken to each unit of players regarding how games can be managed better in the final minutes.

We had a long chat last week about what I felt every player, both individually and then collectively as units—meaning goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and strikers—could do to help us manage matches. And that’s what I think the difference has been, in my opinion, is that we’ve gotten to the end of a lot of games and needed to manage the match better. And we’ve also gotten to points in every game, periods of every game and will happen with every team in our league and every match in our league—there’s gonna be periods where you have to suffer a little bit, and it’s about how you manage that suffering time as well as how you flip the momentum. And so I think we were quite clear, and the players came up with the ideas themselves about what we could do better in those moments. And I would say that in this Columbus match, there was really only a 10- or 15-minute period in the first half where we suffered a little bit. But other than that, we managed the match very, very well. We did everything exactly right except put the ball in the back of the net in the last 15 minutes that we deserved.

Midfielder Cristian Higuita assisted on the equalizing goal by Giles Barnes in a 1-1 draw with Columbus Crew SC on Aug. 19.

assisted on the equalizing goal by in a 1-1 draw with Columbus Crew SC on Aug. 19. That assist was his second of the season and the fifth of his career.

It’s an odd situation because I know he appeared as if he was in a more-high role. And he certainly subbed in the game in a more-high role. But he was in more-advanced positions regardless of the actual tactical position he was in because he was supposed to be playing the deepest-lying midfielder in our system. But he was finding effective ways to get forward at right times. And we can certainly do that. We can certainly be very mobile and dynamic in our midfield, and we want our players to be able to do that. So, from my point of view, the energy level that he brought in that game was different than it has been for a while. And that took me back to the first three or four games of the season when he was doing that. So, really, really pleasing performance from him.

Following the draw with Columbus, Dwyer said he felt discomfort in his face with a new mask and was planning on adjusting it before the next match.

I’m not [aware of any changes Dwyer has made with his mask]. Yeah, I’m not. I know that the guy that’s making the masks for him is really, really good. Really, really attentive. I think they made three or four versions of it before the first game, and I’m quite certain that they’re working together to find a great solution for this weekend.

Center-back Jonathan Spector still has not returned from injury and will not be available for selection in Saturday’s bout with the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Slower than we’d like. Slower than we’d like. Really had expected—or not expected but wanted him to be available or hopeful that he’d be available for this match coming up, but he won’t be.

MF Ricardo Kaká

Kaká and left-back Victor “PC” Giro stood in the supporters’ section during the Columbus match.

I was talking with some people in the club, and I ask them if I could watch the game on the stand because of my suspension, and they said yes, and the idea to come to the Wall came up because I wanted to watch the game in that position to see and to feel what our supporters feel during the game and to understand better what is their situation. And so I had this opportunity to not play, and I went there. It’s amazing. It’s amazing atmosphere. It’s very, very good when you are there, and you see how they support the team in every moment; even the moment that we conceded the goal, the supporters continue to sing and support the team. So…thank you very much for supporting everything they’ve done for us. And now I really know and feel what is to support and to be there cheering for this team. No, this was the first time in my career. So great experience and also, for that, I wanted to have this experience, and, here, I had this chance. So another time. Thank you very much because it’s not easy to have an opportunity like that. So they open up the door for me to watch the game and stay there. We just watch the game together and was amazing.

For Kaká, experience is on his team’s side. He’s confident that’ll help City make a final push for the playoffs.

Yeah, we have to believe in what we are trying to say, and what I’m trying to say to them it’s our first year we had a very good series of win games, and this shows that it’s possible. It were our first year, and we did that, so it means that, now, third year, the team is more mature, more experienced. We absolutely can do another series of winning games and probably are gonna do that. Well now it’s time to have our personal motivations to look forward and to win games. So what I’m trying to say to them is to find yourself motivation and come here every day in training and give something that you haven’t given yet. So this is the moment to give the little bit more ’cause it’s just a little bit to win games. Now we need this little bit to start winning and keep this series of win. As I said, I think it’s the moment that everyone needs to give something special and a little bit more. It’s just a little bit. Because we are losing games, we are tying games because of just a little bit. So just some details. Now, so it’s time to everyone keep your mind understanding what’s happening and what you can give better for the team and to give this little bit more. That we are almost there. Almost there. Almost there. Almost there. So it means something that we cannot arrive in the point that we can win the games. So, what we can do now to arrive in that point to win games. So what is the detail that I can change for me, and everyone can see that the coach and the staff and everybody who’s working here and going on the field. What is this different thing that I can do for these eight games to change our situation and make the playoffs?

Yotún and Kaká have played just one match together so far.

It’s very good [to play with Yotún. He’s a very a good player. His pass is very, very good. So, just play two games, but I think that he’s feeling at home here, and I think you’ll see he’s going to help us a lot, and he’ll give a lot of joy for this team and for this club.

Kaká sees Dwyer as a game-changer.

Dom, it’s a very intensive player. So he’s giving us this intensity that we really need and to change the games now. He just came in the game after the substitution, and he just came with this intention and wanted to change the game. So I think Dom can give us this challenger, and also I think it’s good when you have this motivation beside the team. It’s a fair challenge because everyone wants to play, and so when you have players like him to challenge everybody, it’s very good.

(translated from Spanish)

Kaká plans on being in an Orlando uniform next season.

The 2017 season is the final one of his current contract.

That’s my ideal principle. My first idea is to continue here, renew with Orlando, but I’m still focused on this year and on what we can do. We have experience from the first year where we closed the season with consecutive victories, and that’s what I’m telling the boys. If it was possible in the first year, it’s more than possible in the third year. We’re more experienced, we know how the league is, we know what we’re up against now… It’s still possible.

For Kaká, the Lions are losing because of “little things.”

We’re losing and winning games by just a little bit, so it’s now the moment to do a little bit more. Train harder and stay focused, which is something all of us have to do, and, in the end, that can make the difference.

Kaká wants his team to find personal motivation to help end the season.

My message to the group is to find a personal motivation to do a little more. Like, asking yourself, “What I do I want for my life and career with the season ending? I want to continue here, renew my contract, I want to play in Europe.” For everyone to find a personal motivation and bring it to the group and make that a difference. We need that difference. We’re losing games by just a little. A goal in the final moments of a game or a tie, so that’s making the difference. We just have to change that.

DF Donny Toia

Training appeared to be longer and more intense than usual on Wednesday. Toia didn’t sense it, though.

Yeah, it’s tough, obviously. I mean, trying to get results, so training sessions are intense, and everybody’s fighting and giving everything they got, and hopefully we can come out with a result this weekend.

Yeah, it felt good. I think the guys feel good. I mean, didn’t seem like it was that much longer, but we’re just trying to get all the kinks out. I mean, it’s a work in a progress every day, but I think we’re in the right direction, and we just gotta keep our heads up and keep going forward.

While the odds are stacked against City, Toia believes it’s still possible to make the playoffs.

Yeah, it’s gonna be tough. I mean ,we’ve definitely made it difficult on ourselves. But it’s still possible, and I think as long as we stick together and keep fighting for each other, we have a good chance at it.

During the final stretch of nine games, Toia doesn’t try to change his approach.

No, I mean, you just go in there, same mindset, trying to do your best and give everything and leave it all on the field, and hopefully we come out with a result. I mean, the last couple games, we’ve been playing well. Just haven’t been getting the results. So, that’s just the final piece that we need right now, and I think—I mean, now’s the right time to do it. So, hopefully, if we can get that done this weekend.

Toia says it’s frustrating not getting results despite mostly good play.

Yeah, absolutely. It’s definitely frustrating. Like you said, we played well. We had most of possession, and we had plenty of chances. We just need to capitalize on that and finish out the games. I mean, it’s as simple as that. But there’s definitely frustration, but, at the same time, that frustration builds, and hopefully it turns into positive energy, and we end up finishing the game maybe 2-0, 3-0 game.

For Toia, Dwyer brings a distinct energy to the game.

Yeah, he brought a lot of energy to the stadium, to the team, to the fans. So, it’s huge, obviously, when you get that kinda energy to come in. I mean, obviously, you wanna prove to everybody that they’re wrong and come out with a result. So, I think it’s great and that it’ll keep happening as far as I’m concerned.

For more on the Lions, as they look to battle back into a playoff position, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.