Veljko Paunovic, Chicago Fire Head Coach
On the team frustration, losing six out of the last seven games, and the last two at home
"No one said this was going to be easy and this was exactly what we were talking about. At some point this season we were all celebrating the great season so far and the great performance of the team. It wasn't done and it's not done even now, so we're not happy to see the latest result obviously and everyone wants to fix this team as soon as possible. But, we have to keep together, we have to keep working, we have to fix it and we have to stick together and understand that only the work and unity and commitment will bring us back on our winning streak. I want to thank the guys in the second half. They gave a huge effort to equalize and even to win the game. Unfortunately, we only scored one goal, which was the first objective in the second half. We also have to congratulate Minnesota on their performance and their game plan and obviously, the win. With that said we're looking forward to having all the guys together. All the guys back from injury and bring back the spirt on the locker room."
On whether the team's poor performance are mental, physical or tactical
"Listen, according to data we get from the professionals, we run at least like other teams or more. We have more possession. We have more initiative and we're not different on that side than we were in the past. I think it's the mentality. We are in a situation we're running a lot and doing a lot but we are not sharp, we're not efficient. Then it always goes back to the confidence, always goes back to the mentality. You know when it's difficult you see how everyone behaves against the adversity. So right now, I'm happy to see our team is reacting and I'm happy to see the guys put more and more effort, and I'm sure with that mentality and that mindset we will at one point get a good result that will bring the confidence back. We just have to stick together like I said and we have to keep working until that moment comes and we have to understand also the urgency of the situation. We still depend on ourselves which is good and we still have games at home that are very important and are a priority as always but we're also expecting the team at any given moment will bounce back with a performance on the road. Hopefully next Saturday against Montreal. Now we have the team we played just a couple of weeks ago, the team we know very well and that we have to learn from the lessons that we learned in that game and prepare to get points in Montreal."
Which is more concerning, the concession of goals or lack of goals on offense?
"I am worried, I'm actually not happy with the performance on defense. We concede very easy goals, I think we can always go back and see the individual mistakes but also the collective mistakes and both are what kills us. However, we're working on that. Today the backline worked very well actually as a unit. But those individual mistakes we couldn't fix in those moments. We have to get back to where we have more clean sheets, especially at home. That's our goal, that's something that has to become the priority and were working on that."
Dax McCarty, Chicago Fire Midfielder
On the team's frustration
"As frustrated as you should be. Nobody likes losing. Everyone's frustrated, but we're going to try to stay positive and get out of this."
On a lack of confidence
"Yeah, sure, I agree with that a little bit. You've got to have confidence to score goals and we can't score goals right now, so it's frustrating."
On the issues behind a losing streak
"I just think it's a simple game: if you give the other team breakaways and tap-ins, you're going to concede goals. And then on the other end, if it takes 25 shots to score one goal, it's not a recipe to winning many games."
On the team's sense of urgency
"Yes, absolutely. We've always had a sense of urgency but clearly now, with the way things have gone in the last couple of games, I think that needs to be ramped up to another level. The playoffs are certainly not a certainty right now so we need to make sure we stay positive and try to get back on the right track."
On the lone Fire goal
"We felt like we could get back in the game. We had chances to equalize and we didn't do it."
Johan Kappelhof, Chicago Fire Defender
On the struggles of a losing streak
"We are struggling right now. I think we work hard but it doesn't go so well like before, it doesn't go so easy so we have to work more than we do. We have to finish our chances and that's also a problem."
On the team's frustration
"We're all frustrated, of course, because we're losing a lot in the last couple of weeks. It's hard to come out of it but we have to keep believing in ourselves. There's enough time to repair everything and come back where we were."
On the differences from earlier in the season
"We got some setbacks but I think we're still a group, but it doesn't go so easy like before. Before, the first chance was a goal, and now we have to work hard for the chances and we don't finish them and we give easy goals away. It's now a tough time but we have to regroup and give everything to repair."
