CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

May 1, 2021

Johan Kappelhof

Press Conference

New York Red Bulls 2, Chicago Fire 0

Q. Johan, with a game like today where you guys had given up maybe a couple preventible goals, what is something you can work on this week to prevent that from happening again next week?

JOHAN KAPPELHOF: Just keep the focus for 90 minutes, 90-plus minutes. We were focused the first half. We didn't start well the second half. Not focused enough and we got caught in transition. So we have to recover better, like sprint back faster, yeah.

Q. What's the level of frustration among the group right now, winless in three to start the year after a rough year last year and rough end to last season, especially? What's the level of frustration and should there be frustration with the group right now?

JOHAN KAPPELHOF: I don't think so. We have to keep believing in ourselves. Why we be frustrated -- three games in, it's not a great start but we believe in ourselves and we know we can do better. So we have to just keep working hard and keep grinding.

Of course we are disappointed. That's the right feeling. We are very disappointed because we know we can do better but there are plenty of games left. So we keep focused on the next game.

Q. From your perspective, what happened on that first goal?

JOHAN KAPPELHOF: I think that they want -- I think they won a duel back and they kicked it long. I was sprinting back with a striker, and the ball -- the ball was bouncing, and, yeah, he end up winning the duel and he gave the cross. I think I should have prevented him giving the cross. And I think as a team we have to sprint back faster to recover. But I think I can do better.

Q. How would you evaluate your play individually so far this season?

JOHAN KAPPELHOF: I don't know. I have to take more time and look back on the first three games. I'm glad to be out there, be on the field and be fit. And of course I'm not there yet where I want to be. But I just keep grinding and keep giving my all.