CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

October 3, 2021

Frank Klopas

Press Conference

Toronto FC 3, Chicago 1

Q. How is Fabian Herbers doing after leaving the game in I think the 21st?

FRANK KLOPAS: Yeah, he had a hamstring. He found something in his hamstring and obviously we took him out at the moment and I think we just have to assess probably the next couple days, and see how he is. But that's what he felt. He felt a little tweak as he's going and the field was a little bit heavy with the rain and stuff like that.

So we don't know the extent of the injury until tomorrow when he gets a little bit further assessed by the physicians.

Q. The big question with Wednesday and Rapha losing his job officially Thursday, what was your reaction depart?

FRANK KLOPAS: I mean, disappointed, obviously. I mean, how can you not be disappointed? First of all, Rapha and I worked together almost for two years. I know how hard the guy worked. I know how much he cared. He's a great human being, and I know that he never left anything -- any stone unturned to make sure that we tried to be always prepared. He worked tirelessly.

And at the end of the day, we know the business. You know, the results were not there we all know. But you know, always look at the coach, but there's responsibility on everyone. It's not just on one person.

Q. Does it hurt more to see him go knowing -- he seemed like a good, decent man and everybody else has said the same thing. Does it hurt even more to know that he left being such a good guy?

FRANK KLOPAS: Yeah, listen, we know the business that we're in. He knows that coming in. It's not his first rodeo. That's the thing. I think the important thing, look, soccer, football, whatever you want to call it, brings people together from around the world. Situations like this, it's not short. It's almost two years. But then you go different ways.

But you know, the ability to get to know people, and football brings us together and friendships last a lot longer. But the minute you step in, you know what you're in for at the end of the day.

So you know, Rapha knew that but I'm just here to say that I know from his standpoint and for me and all our staff that we worked really hard, because the most important thing, we all cared about the club and we want the club to be successful, and that's the most important thing. Yeah, you look at the coach and you do that, but like I said, there's guilt and it's one person who paid the price, but I think you can look at the responsibility on all of us, and the players included.

Q. Looking ahead, what are you trying to get out of these last five games? I don't need to recite the playoff math.

FRANK KLOPAS: Listen, I'm going to tell you straight: I want more -- I will do anything for the club. You know, I came in with Rapha because I was asked to. I will do anything for the club and that's what I did. The most important thing for me is that -- and I told the team: You need to be competitive and fight till the end, okay, because a lot of people forget what happens in the beginning and you forget right away. But it's so important the message and what you put in these last five or six games. That's what's important.

For me, always do what's best for the club. I want to be competitive and try to win every game, but I also have to see, you know, think about the future of the club, also, with the playoffs and who to put in and who to play and all that stuff.

But the most important thing is that we want to be competitive and win every game, and that's a responsibility on all of us, on me and the players and what to put forth and to take care of themselves and to fight -- to fight till the end and never give up. Never give up, and that's what this club is all about, and they have to understand that. If they don't feel good about a result tonight, then they shouldn't be here.

Q. Is this a test to see what they are made of and how they finish the laugh five games of the season?

FRANK KLOPAS: Listen, there's a track record for two years right now or some guys one year. But like I said, situations change in football very rapidly. A lot of people don't remember. I can go back, first game of the season against New England, we're up 2-0 there's a game you can look back and win.

We as coaches, and not just us on this team, who are in situations like that, they can go back and look at every little thing and say, well, if we would have picked a win here or picked points here or had three more wins, it would be a different situation.

I think the last impression on people is very important. I told them, you need to put everything into it and I know it's not easy, because for some of them, they might not be here. But in today's world, people call and they ask, you know, and then they see what kind of person is this guy. It's what kind of player, which the player they can see. But more importantly, it's how does he train; how does he take care of himself.

Even for someone who doesn't work here, and nowadays, people will call and you have to be honest. A lot of people that call are people that I know and people I've worked with and I have to be honest with them. Yes, it's an opportunity for everybody to show that they want to be a part of this club moving forward, but also, you know, we knew everything on the field in this last game, and continue to try to win every game, why not.

Owner is very big on the history of the past and Chicago is very rich in soccer tradition and we cannot forget the people who made it possible to be here today and for me to be here. It was great to see that '81 team come and be celebrated because they paved the way for all of us to be here.