Martín Ojeda returned to the field for Orlando City at Minnesota United after missing the Lions’ previous 10 matches while recovering from an injury. Orlando City drew 3-3 at Minnesota United, and Ojeda is now in his second week of training with the club’s full squad.
Ojeda said the time away increased his appreciation for training, his health and playing with his teammates.
“Well, I felt very good. Honestly, I really missed being with my teammates on the field, being with them and stepping back onto a field again,” Ojeda said. “I’m happy about that, happy to be back and present again. So now the idea is to continue recovering well, to be 100% so that I can be there with Martín [Perelman], his coaching staff, and my teammates.”
Ojeda said he is gradually rebuilding the rhythm he lost during his absence. He also described the month-and-week layoff as difficult and said it was his first or second injury in five or six years.
“This is my second week training with the team, and little by little I’m getting accustomed to it and getting back the rhythm I lost during a month. A month and a week is difficult because, well, this is my first, or second, injury in five or six years. I’m not someone who usually has these kinds of things happen to me, but I’m strong and ready to come back,” Ojeda said.
Orlando City hosts San Diego FC for first meeting
Orlando City will host San Diego FC at Inter.co Stadium on Saturday for the first meeting between the two clubs. San Diego FC is a 2025 expansion side that has won five of its last six matches in all competitions after beginning the season with a 10-match winless run.
Orlando City surrendered a two-goal lead during the final 20 minutes against Minnesota United before Tyrese Spicer scored a stoppage-time equalizer. Interim head coach Martín Perelman said Orlando City is focused on its own preparation for the matchup.
“For us, it’s about preparing the game. That’s for us. That’s their problem, not ours. So we take care of us, our plan, our team, and we prepare the game. Playing at home, we always want to win, even more at home. It’s our house, it’s our people, our family,” Perelman said.
Perelman said Orlando City respects San Diego FC and has prepared for the match while recognizing the difficult stretches both clubs have experienced this season.
“We know the season they’ve had. Things were quite complicated for them at the beginning, and then they settled in, but those are processes that are characteristic of this league. In that sense, our season has been similar as well, and here we are. I think it’s going to be a good match. We respect and analyze all of our opponents. We did the same with San Diego, and we prepared for our match. We’re focused on that,” Perelman said.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday at Inter.co Stadium. The match will be available on Apple TV.
Source: Original report