ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando City SC rookie Chris Mueller isn’t short on confidence. Just two days into the 2018 preseason, Mueller laid out his lofty expectations for the season.
“We wanna make a deep run in the playoffs and hopefully bring home a [Major League Soccer] Cup back to the city,” Mueller said after training on Jan. 23. “So I think anything less of that is setting ourselves short.”
At just 21 years old, the former Wisconsin Badger has proven to be an effective passer. In his final season at Wisconsin, he was named Big Ten Conference Offensive Player of the Year and led the nation in assists with 20.
At City’s annual media day on Feb. 5, center back Jonathan Spector said he was impressed with what he had seen in the rookie, so far, this preseason.
“I like his enthusiasm and his drive and his commitment. I think, as time goes on, he’ll understand how it is and how you have to be patient and wait for your chance,” Spector said. “But once that chance comes, it’s up to him to make the most of it.
“So, no, I wouldn’t temper any of [his expectations]. I like how passionate he is.”
As a forward for the Lions, Mueller will get to learn from some of the most respected in MLS. He joins a reformatted City roster with offensive threats like Dom Dwyer, Sacha Kljestan and Justin Meram. Mueller, himself, is known for setting up goals for his teammates, and, with the talent surrounding him on the Lion’s roster, he should be able to continue to do the same in Orlando.
But ahead of the 2018 season, goals aren’t the focus—chemistry is. City faced significant turnover this past offseason, losing more than 15 players from last year’s roster and adding at least 12, so far.
For head coach Jason Kreis, the chemistry between green players like Mueller and the Lions’ veterans is developing nicely.
“… It’s two-fold, right? In any relationship, there’s two sides of the street,” Kreis said at media day on Feb. 5. “There’s one side about a new player coming in and being open to new ideas and new culture and being led by people, and then there’s the other side, which is the guys that have been here. And the leaders of the group being open to grabbing hold of those guys and welcoming them in with open arms and leading them by example.
“And both sides of the street, right now, are operating extremely well. So, as I said before, from my chair, what I’m basically judging things on, right now, is team comradery, team chemistry, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Mueller stood out at the 2018 MLS Player Combine, posting the fastest time in the 5-10-5 agility test and the 10th-best 30-meter dash (3.99). He’s, now, preparing for a season in which he could make an immediate impact with City, as Kreis said the 2018 Lions will determine starters on a day-by-day basis.
“There aren’t starters. It’s one big team and they are going to be competing every single day to decide who the starters are,” Kreis said. “It’s not starters and reserves, but for me—nd I’m not kidding when I say this—I really, really like, both from the character point of view and from a soccer point of view, every single player that is on our roster.”
The Lions will look to take another step toward deciding starting candidates on Saturday when they host Minnesota United FC for their second preseason friendly of 2018. City already beat Jacksonville University 4-1 on Feb. 3.
For more on the Lions, as they continue their preseason with another friendly on Saturday, follow Sarah Kelliher on Twitter at @sarahkelliher4.
