Welcome to another edition of "Discuss," in which MLSsoccer.com editors debate the topics of the moment in MLS. This week, we ask how Orlando City, currently sitting pretty in second place in the Eastern Conference, should re-integrate Kaká following his impending return to the squad after an opening-day injury. The Brazilian superstar trained fully on Friday and could be ready to play as soon as Sunday against New York City FC (1:30 pm ET | FS1, FOX Deportes).
Senior Editors Ben Couch and Arielle Castillo, Vice President, Video Content Jason Saghini, Associate Editor Benjamin Baer, and Contributor Alicia Rodriguez weigh in on the Kaká question.
RODRIGUEZ: Take it easy
You want Kaká around for most of the season, not for a couple weeks following a re-occurrence of an injury, so I think they need to be as cautious as possible. If Orlando City make a late push for the playoffs, or qualify this postseason, they're going to want Kaká healthy and active in the business end of the campaign.
SAGHINI: Caution is key, but Kaká is essential
As successful as they’ve been without him, Kaká gives Orlando a better chance to win week-to-week. That said, they can now afford to introduce him slowly and not risk re-injury, so I expect that he’ll come off the bench for Matias Perez Garcia, Giles Barnes or Carlos Rivas for 10-20 minutes against NYC, depending on the match situation.
COUCH: Trust the man
Look, it's Kaká -- if he's healthy, he plays. And unless he tells you he'd rather test the waters in the final 30, you're putting him in the XI and hoping for an injury-free hour. Plan for another week on ice and no one will remember this was a discussion by then.
CASTILLO: He's the best fit
There’s no question that the team’s biggest star and captain, if fully fit, should go back into the starting XI. While some of his teammates have come close-ish, nobody else on the squad so perfectly works as a No. 10 right now.
BAER: Stars play, period
Barnes has played exceptionally well, but his spot should be occupied by Kaká going forward. You obviously can’t keep the Brazilian legend off the field and Rivas and Cyle Larin have too good of a partnership to break up.
