KISSIMMEE, Fla. — In the moments before Orlando City exited the locker room for the team’s home opener on Saturday, forward Chris Mueller noticed something different.
There was a sense of excitement — and, of course, nerves — that Mueller expected ahead of a home opener. But as the team huddled up to hear from new coach Oscar Pareja one more time, the forward also felt a new sense of companionship in the locker room.
“It really feels like a family,” Mueller said. “Everybody genuinely cares about each other and I think that translates onto the pitch.