ORLANDO – Chalk up another success for Orlando’s tourism industry.
Even though it sounds like a Florida cliché, Adrian Winter knew enough about the city from a prototypical pilgrimage to its many theme parks several years ago to know he would jump at a chance to play soccer here. So when the Lions came calling, he didn’t hesitate.
Now the Swiss midfielder is all set for his third appearance in purple in Saturday’s crucial showdown at Toronto FC (4 pm ET; MLS LIVE in US, TSN in Canada), and he’s well aware that his upcoming time in Central Florida will be no vacation.
“I was very happy to hear from the team,” the 29-year-old said. “I was one time here in Orlando, and I saw Disney World and Sea World and everything. I liked it here very much, with the sun and the weather, so it was a very easy decision for me. Now it is time for the hard work."
He knows just what is being asked of him--to fill the team’s problem role on the right side that has been evident since Kevin Molino was lost for the year to an ACL injury in May.
The Lions have struggled to find attacking balance since losing Molino, with Lewis Neal, Eric Avila, Darwin Ceren and Carlos Rivas all having a turn at trying to nail down the role. That has been exacerbated since Brek Shea was sidelined by his sports hernia in June, the last time the team claimed back-to-back wins.
So there is a lot of focus on Winter to give the team more threat going forward, even though he will be playing in front of his third different right back as Rafael Ramos returns from injury.
“It is not a problem for me,” he insisted. “In Switzerland, I wanted a new experience and a new challenge, and this was perfect. I am so happy to be here. I very much like the team and the coach – they are very encouraging for me. Now we have to win.”
Winter credits the likes of New England’s José Gonçalves – who also played in Switzerland for FC Sion and St Gallen – and former Vancouver Swiss standout Alain Rochat, as well as Jonas Elmer and Davide Chiumiento, for passing on their MLS experience. That gave him the green light to tackle the new challenge, he said.
“José helped me very much,” Winter said. “He told me it’s a strong, powerful and physical style. With my speed, that sounded great for me. He also said the big difference is in the traveling, but I like to fly so that is no problem for me. José also told me Orlando have the best fans who make noise for 90 minutes, and already I have seen this when I made my debut. It was fantastic and it gave me goose bumps. If we have the 12th man behind us, that gives us more power when the game is 50-50.”
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Orlando’s fading playoff hopes will take another hit without at least a point at Toronto and, in addition to Shea and Molino, they will be without the suspended Ceren. That could leave the door open for Corey Ashe to return at left back, with Luke Boden moving up into midfield again – one of the few successes from their last game against the Reds, when Boden scored his first MLS goal.
Rivas is also pushing for a return to the lineup, while recent signing Adam Bedell could make the bench as an additional attacking option. Head coach Adrian Heath was playing his cards close to his chest, though, when it came to his starting XI.
“Carlos has certainly trained hard, and we think he will get involved at some stage,” Heath said. “But, like with several of our new players, it is a case of having to decide when is the best time to throw them in."
He also added that Lewis Neal has had a full week's training. “We are going to need our experienced players in these last nine games," he said. "Brek is also training again and, although this week is too soon for him, we are starting to get more options for each position.”
