CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

October 3, 2021

Gabriel Slonina

Press Conference

Toronto 3, Chicago 1

Q. What was your reaction to everything that happened with Rafa Wicky and seeing him lose his job? What's it like to go through that as a player?

GABRIEL SLONINA: You know, it's always difficult when you -- when things change in the club. Right now we still have five games left, so I think the focus is going to be on trying to finish the season the best we can and continue to fight and push and believe in every single game we go out and give our all. I think, yeah, of course, the situation is difficult, but we are doing our best to try and focus on games and just give our all.

Q. How do you guys focus on the games when, you know, knowing that frank is not going to be the coach next year and that things could, again, be very different around this club next season?

GABRIEL SLONINA: Personally, I think it's just going to the game with the same preparation we have gone into always. I think it's just about preparing mentally and physically the same as you would be with any other coach. It's good that some changes are going to be made but we're doing our best to try and of course finish the season we can to prepare for next season and continue to fight and believe and push for the playoffs.

Q. For you personally, you're getting the run of games. What did you get from today's game specifically?

GABRIEL SLONINA: Every game is a learning experience and I'm learning something new, whether it's a win, draw, loss, but the biggest thing for me was to I think never get comfortable when we are up 1-0. Things can change any second, any minute. I think it's about saying focused and engaged the entire night.

Q. Going back to Wednesday, got kind of lost in the shuffle, but I saw you embrace your mother Wednesday night after the first win. Just what was that moment like for you Wednesday just putting aside everything that happened with Coach Wicky? What was Wednesday night like for to you get that first win as a professional goalie?

GABRIEL SLONINA: Yeah, getting the first win was incredible. It's a big part of my career and I think that helped me gain some confidence and be more comfortable playing on the field.

Yeah, it was one of the best nights of my life honestly because I put so much work into it and just getting a win and getting a clean sheet was something incredible.

Q. You got your first penalty, what does that mean to get that off the to-do list as well?

GABRIEL SLONINA: I knew I was prepared for it. I watched the scout everything, and so I was pretty confident I was going to save it. It's all about the team and right now I'm not really thinking about the penalty safe. I'm thinking about how we can improve and be better the next game.