CHICAGO (March 2, 2024) – Chicago Fire FC (0-1-1, 1 point) fell 2-1 against FC Cincinnati (1-0-1, 4 points) on Saturday night at Soldier Field. Following the loss, Head Coach Frank Klopas, midfielder Kellyn Acosta, midfielder Brian Gutiérrez, and midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri spoke to the media.
Chicago Fire FC Head Coach Frank Klopas
On the first home match of the season…
“Yeah, first game. I mean, there was a lot of excitement going into this match. I think that you have one home opener, and I think it was important for us to come out in a positive way. I think we're disappointed, obviously, with the result. But I think at the end of the day, when you look overall, the game as a whole, you saw a team – I saw a lot of good things from our team out there today against a very good team. I think at the end of the day, when you play a team like this, you make two mistakes and we paid for it.
But as a whole, okay, when you look at it, you know, our expected goals were much higher; our ability in the box, the passes in the box, our crosses, without corners. We conceded a lot of corners and we paid for it, but I saw a lot of positive things. I think we're a team that's growing and we played a team that's been established already. And I think those little things made the difference, but I felt that other than the result, which I’m never happy losing, never happy, you know, especially being here at home. But I feel that people might, you know, look at this – I say this and you might think it's the wrong way – but I feel really positive that this team is heading in the right direction. I really do. I saw a lot of good things today. And you know, it's disappointing that our two mistakes were costly and we paid the price for it. But we’ve got to learn, grow and move forward.”
On what was said to the team following key errors…
“(You) don’t say anything, just it’s the next play, we have to move on. Mistakes are going to be made. You try to make some tough tactical adjustments like we did, especially without the ball, and then our ability with the ball. You know, I think it was important for – we had this 4-v-2 advantage in the middle, but every time Shaq [Xherdan Shaqiri] and Guti [Brian Gutiérrez] were getting higher up the field, then you made it easy for the center backs to press us. You know, the further away we were, then we could take advantage of that. Our ability to play, you know, once we attract them on one side, find our pivot, switch the point of attack, we needed to be much quicker with that. But then, I mean, I think we pushed the game. They defended really well in crucial moments in the game and it just comes down to those little things, you know, those little details. But with the player, it's nothing, it's all about the next play, we’ve got to move on. And, you know, it's not about one player, it's about the team; we could have handled situations better as a team.”
On the team’s defending against set pieces…
“I mean, we gave up a goal, so we're not happy about that. But when you look at it, in the first half, go back in the game and see, did [Luciano Acosta] have a clear chance? I really didn't see. He was getting flustered and going all over. But he's a player that, over 90 minutes, it just takes one moment for him to make a special play. Overall, I think the corners we conceded, we need to do a better job. It's not a secret. We conceded a goal so I'm not happy about that.”
On what needs to be done to create more goal-scoring opportunities…
“What needs to be done? I think we had a good game plan going in against this team, how to attack them. I think our ability, we tried to get Guti and Shaq closer to Hugo at certain times so he's not alone. I think we did a good job. You know, I think it's little things. I think maybe the final pass. I think it's details. I think they defended the box really well tonight. We need to keep being persistent. We need to, at moments, guys to take more risks in certain moments. But I think our expected goals were much higher than they were, so we got in good spots. Now we just, maybe it's the final pass that needs to be better, the delivery. It’s the little details that we need to keep working on.”
On playing Fabian Herbers at left wingback…
“We're playing at home, I wanted to go more attacking, that was a big reason. I think, you know, you’re always, you go one way, there's positives going one way and then on the other thing, from the defensive end. So I play at home, I try to put guys that I think can get behind; I think guys that are good on the ball, that can give us that, you know, superiority in the middle. And then when we pushed, I felt when we played with two forwards and we talked about bringing Chase (Gasper) maybe to get more crosses in when we did that. But then it's just, I put Chris (Mueller) in, I felt maybe that he can combine a little bit better, I put Guti in. It’s the little things: you can take this guy, you can put this guy, it's like, what does one guy give you? They defended the box really well, so I felt if we got Chase with a lot of crosses, I wanted more guys that maybe can combine and break through that way. And you know, you can always second guess yourself but I think we made good decisions with the guys going in. We had good moments, we just didn't put the ball in the back of the net.”
Chicago Fire FC Midfielder Kellyn Acosta
On his 80 minute performance tonight…
“Yeah, it was good to get the start, especially here at home in front of the fans back in the red. From my standpoint, you know, it felt good to get those first minutes. And, you know, for me, I thought the game was a difficult game in moments. But I think I could help the team a little bit better. I had a couple of chances offensively, where I’ve got to get the ball on target. Defensively could have been more sound and more connected with Gastón. But, you know, it's about formulating those relationships and getting more in tune with the team. I think it was only the second game of the season, but I think as the games go on progressively, I think we'll have a more cohesive team and unit and as we're getting to know each other's tendencies, I think it'll be a lot better. You know, like I said, today was a tough game, and I'm just going to regroup and rebuild.”
On if the cohesiveness of the group will translate to results soon…
“Yeah, I mean, we definitely hope so. I think we were putting a lot of time and energy on the training field, we saw in spurts, you know, in moments what we can do and what we can accomplish. I think, you know, for us, there was some mental lapses of concentration, especially with the two goals and some other moments. But it's one of those things where we got to look at the video, learn from our mistakes. And as we go on, fine tune those mistakes and go into next weekend to Columbus and put our best foot forward to get a result there.”
On how he approaches the leadership role in the locker room…
“Yeah, I think for us in moments that adversity is where we become and where we know what we can do. You know, like you said, a few tough games in the first stretch of the games. You know, my first moments in preseason, I was just observing, but I'm also just on the field, like you mentioned, to bring my leadership, bring my qualities into the team, and help the team in whatever capacity that I can.
Like I said, today was a tough game. I think from all our standpoints. I think we all can raise the level a little bit. I’ll put my hand up first where I could, you know, be better at some moments and help the team. And like I said, this is what the games are: every team is going to be a good team, it’s going to be a good matchup, it's going to be tough but we have a good team here. And we can talk about it all that we want, but we also have to execute and show it and so that's the next step for us.
But like I said, I mean, [Philadelphia] was a tough test away. Here at home against a tough Cincinnati team that did very well last year. You know, they got a little bit of a head start in the Champions [Cup], that's no excuse, but for us it’s just some matchups against the top teams here in the league. It is a good test and like I said, we've got to just keep going and keep pushing and remain positive.”
On what he learned in preseason as well as the first couple weeks of the regular season…
“Yeah, I think for me, I just bring my attributes and characteristics to the team and help any which way possible, but coming into the team I didn't know what to expect. Obviously, it's been a tough some years here in Chicago. You know, last year, I think (three points) away from making the playoffs. Some games were losing games off of mental lapses of concentration, from red cards, to some silly goals. But you know, I had that in the back of my head and then coming in within preseason, I saw a group that there's really something special that's brewing here. Now the group of guys that are willing to put the work in, the commitment, the understanding, the buy-in. All the coaching staff from top to bottom, and ownership. I think, you know, we have a solid group in the organization, but it's now about putting all that onto the field. I think that's the next step for us.
Like you said, if we take it game by game, looking back on the last two games, I mean, you know, we wanted more, we expected more. I think for our group, and you know, internalizing what it is, it's difficult. I know the fan base is really keen on us really turning things around, but I mean, I can tell you just from our standpoint, in the locker room, we're upset, we're pissed off. We want to win. We compete each and every day. There's guys that didn't play today that want to be on the field. We have a competitive team, from guys on the bench to the guys who are starting. But yeah, like I said, we take it game by game, we can continue to grow and continue to build and there's still a long season ahead.”
Chicago Fire FC Midfielder Brian Gutierrez
On how he feels under head coach Frank Klopas and how he lives the moment…
“Yeah, I'm calm. Coach Frank and all the players give me that confidence that gives me that freedom, which as a young player and as a player you want, and yeah just taking it day by day and taking it with calm.”
On drawing a penalty…
“I mean, obviously, yeah, getting that PK is always good. And honestly, as an attacker, that's what you want, you want to be a threat in the final third. That's what I did, so it was a reward as you said.”
On playing closely with Hugo Cuypers and Xherdan Shaqiri and what makes Cincinnati difficult to break down…
“Yeah, I think that was the game plan – an overload in the middle – and I think they obviously have a great system. They know what to do. They're all connected. I think that that's a little harder for us on the offensive third where it’s more man-oriented. Yeah, I think we needed more mobility up front, but that was the main reason.”
On handling a difficult early season schedule…
“Obviously, being connected as a group. I think we switched off today in set pieces, which is a big role and a big key that we have. Obviously having a set piece coach here, we're implementing that every day and I think we just need to switch on during those little moments where that could cost you the game and it cost us today.”
On how the team feels physically…
“I think, personally, from my standpoint, I feel great. And I think we did a good preseason this year and I think everyone's healthy right now. So that's a plus.”
On how the team is adjusting to new additions such as Hugo Cuypers and Kellyn Acosta in the lineup…
“Yeah, obviously, as a team, they came in late in preseason, which, I mean, it's not ideal, but it is what it is. But I think, it takes a few games to get to know each other on the field and get what they like, what their habits are like on the field. I think you just have to build off that, like a lot of people say it's a long season in MLS, so we're not dwelling on this and I think we're just moving forward today.”
Chicago Fire FC Midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri
On what the team can do to be more consistent on the attacking end…
“It’s difficult to say because we’ve only played two games and we have to play more games to see how consistent we can be. I think it’s one of the most important things in football, consistency, and this is also our big goal this year, that we can be more consistent than last year to make our goals and it’s one of the most important tools in football to be successful. I think we work a lot in training, you can see that the game plan is much better already. We match up with these good teams. I think we have a tough start but we want to compete with the best. We also have new players in, they need to settle in and we have to know each other better on the pitch. This is our first goal, I think. And if we get these guys in a perfect way, we will win our games.”
On the message given to the team as the captain…
“The message, I think everyone knows what we have to do. Everyone at the Club wanted to win the first game but this is football, sometimes you cannot start perfect but this is how we started. At the end of the day it’s a football game and there’s sometimes a winner and there’s a loser, and today, unfortunately, we lost the game but we have a lot of positives, I think, in this game. We don’t have to forget Cincinnati is a good team, they played last year I think the semi-final or final, I’m not too sure, but they’re a good team. You can see how they play and they got some new players up-front. It was a difficult game but we matched up most of the time. There were not any crazy, big chances for them, but we also had our own chances. At the end of the day my message for the team is that this corner kick, we cannot concede from a corner kick like that. This was too simple of a goal and maybe the only one where we were not on our toes. So this is maybe the only thing that I can give to the team that we have to handle better the result and to try, also, to play forward better and to try to create more.”
On the moments before kicking the penalty kick…
“For me it doesn’t really matter how I score. I always want to score, not only on penalties, but I’m the leader on this team and I take the ball and try to score. So far it’s gone well, I haven’t missed and I hope it stays (that way). I hope I can score during the game, too, because we have the qualities not only from me but we also have Hugo (Cuypers) upfront and other players that have the quality. But, of course we have to create more, to try to create more chances, (so) that we can also score in the game, but that’s football. Sometimes it’s decided on only a penalty and we have to stand up and try to score. Unfortunately today we didn’t win, but I think we can take a lot of positives. This is important.”
