Orlando City has been getting good performances out of its key players much of 2021. Nani is on the cusp of the MVP conversation, Antonio Carlos is a frontrunner for Defender of the Year, and even Chris Mueller’s slight down season sees him at a healthy 0.75 combined goals and assists per 90 minutes. Of Orlando’s core group of players, one has noticeably regressed; Mauricio Pereyra.
Last season, the Uruguayan playmaker unlocked something Orlando City had lacked since the days of Kaká — a legitimate central creator. Pereyra ranked among the best creative attacking midfielders in the league, among the upper echelons for shot-creating actions, key passes, expected assists, and assists per 90 minutes in 2020.