Chicago Fire 5:2 Miami FC
Preseason Friendly
Recap
Drew Conner, Chicago Fire Midfielder
On the match overall:
“It was good. I thought the guys in the first half did pretty well. Obviously we had two different lines, so it was down to the second half to close the game. I thought we managed to control the game fairly well; lost it for a spell, but eventually we got it back at the end. Overall, I think it was a pretty good performance.”
On what the second half subs were focused on as they entered the game:
“I think we were just focusing on our spacing, connecting our passes, and just playing forward as much as possible.”
On being a critical part of the buildup on David Accam’s goal:
“It was fun. I just remember I played it to [Michael] Harrington, and he just knocked it back to me. I played Arturo [Alvarez] and he knocked it back again. There was just kind of a good rhythm going forward. Then I played Niko [Nemanja Nikolic] going forward, and he just laid it off to Dave, so it was a pretty smooth goal. I was happy to be involved.”
Luis Solignac, Chicago Fire Forward
On the match overall:
“I think, of course, there are things to review and improve. That’s what the preseason is, but so far so good. We did well with high pressure. That’s what we worked on during the week. That was the point to accomplish, so we did pretty well overall.”
On the high pressure:
“It’s something we are really working on in the preseason. These games are good to try [those ideas]. We have to continue doing this. Of course, against MLS teams it’s going to be harder, but still we can do it.”
On how he’s feeling at this point in the preseason:
“We’re building up, of course. I think we’re going to be great for the beginning of MLS. There’s new guys – some guys this is the first time I played with them in a game – so we’ve got to get used to it and know each other. It’s getting better and better.”
On what the team is doing now to take the next step toward the regular season:
“These games are good to practice what you do in training. At the same time, it will be good to review the things where we are not sharp enough. Against MLS teams you can’t make those kinds of mistakes. These games are good for that. We are going to improve those things and improve also the things we’re doing good – the high pressure – and I think we are in a good moment and on a good track to continue building.”
