After a hectic schedule in May and June, the Lions are finally catching a break midway through July. The team played a midweek match that ended in a 3-1 loss to Toronto FC, and will return to action in 16 days, when they host Atlanta United on July 21st. It has been an exhausting two months, and the Lions are hoping to rebuild their energy and regain their focus over the next few weeks.

“We know there are some particular areas we need to be focused on improving in the next couple of weeks and we’re going to take the opportunity with extended periods of time to train to really get back to some of the things that brought us a lot of success at the beginning of the season,” Kreis said after the match against Toronto FC. “We’re a team that needs energy. And when we don’t have enough energy we suffer results.”

“We have two weeks to refocus and to be back on track,” Kaká said. “A lot of travel during this period, a lot of games during the week. So, I know we get used to this situation but now we have a period to rest, to train, and to train in a lot of things that we lost from the start of the season. So, it’s a good period to come back and be ready for the rest of the season.”

Thankfully, the worst of the Lions schedule is over. After playing seven matches in May and five matches in June, Orlando City have just two matches left in July and four matches in the month of August. And while the Lions will continue to go through stretches where they will be on the road, the matches won’t be as close together as they have been.

The Gold Cup break comes at the right time for the Lions. The team will look to take advantage of this time to regain their focus and strengthen themselves for the remainder of the season.

“Just stay together,” Donny Toia said after the match. “ It’s just going to take time and more practice.”