The Philadelphia Union brass wants Michael Orozco Fiscal to remain with the club. And Orozco Fiscal hopes to stay in Philly, too.
According to both parties, the only thing left to do at this point is to iron out the final details of a new contract to make sure the marriage is a permanent one.
“Nothing is 100 percent, but it’s getting there,” said Orozco Fiscal, who joined the Union at this time last year via loan from Mexican club San Luis FC. “Obviously, I want to be back and I’ve given my word to the coach, to our team. This is like my family. I really like it out here. The fans are great.
“There are just a couple of details here and there that we need to work on. Hopefully we’ll get to the bottom of it.”
Union assistant coach John Hackworth said recently that the team would almost certainly bring back both Orozco Fiscal and Roger Torres, who was also on loan last season. And Orozco Fiscal noted that the deal would be a lot more than just an extension on last season’s loan.
[inline_node:327463]“I want to stay here permanently,” the defender told MLSsoccer.com after Friday’s training session. “I want to be here. I want to be a part of Philadelphia.”
Orozco Fiscal was a fixture in the starting lineup last season, logging more minutes than anyone on the team other than left back Jordan Harvey. He filled a need at fullback for much of the season before settling into a center back role for the final eight-game stretch when the Philly defense finally gelled as a unit.
The 24-year-old Mexican-American, who played for the United States in the 2008 Summer Olympics, also scored a pair of goals in 2010 and, in many ways, served as a bridge connecting the team’s Hispanic players with its Americans.
Even with the Union’s recent signing of defender Carlos Valdés, Orozco Fiscal’s contribution will continue to be vital moving forward as Philly look to improve on a defense that was one of the worst statistically last season. Valdes’ presence may just mean that Orozco Fiscal slides over to a fullback spot and pushes either Harvey or Sheanon Williams to the bench.
Orozco Fiscal also has experience in the midfield.
“When you add games, you add the possibility of injuries and just having guys that need a break,” said Union captain Danny Califf, who figures to start in a center back role alongside either Valdés or Orozco Fiscal. “And competition is always good because it lights a fire under people. Sometimes, unfortunately, it takes bringing someone in right behind you to gain motivation. I think it’s a good thing.”
For Orozco Fiscal, the addition of Valdés has done little to change his attitude or his desire to remain a part of the Union. In fact, he’s already been impressed by the team’s new acquisition.
“He’s a very nice guy,” Orozco Fiscal said of Valdés. “On the field, he’s just tough. His style of soccer is very different. He’s adjusting to our soccer and we’re adjusting to his as well. We’re trying to meet halfway so we have a better team.”
