CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

August 6, 2022

Kacper Przybylko

Press Conference

Chicago Fire FC 3, Charlotte 2

Q. I know that people will ask about what this means for the team to get a win this big, but for you personally and everything that you've gone through this season, what does it mean for you to score and come within inches of scoring three or maybe even four goals tonight?

KACPER PRZYBYLKO: I mean obviously for me personally it's like an ego boost, confidence boost, and I'm happy to score again because it's basically my job. But at the end of the day, it's also important that I catch some balls and some wins and really doing my job as a striker and making space for my teammates.

Yeah, today I'm very, very happy good the goals. So, so, close for my first hat trick. Kind of annoyed by it but at the end of the day the most important thing is the victory for the team. The second goal was my favorite today. I flicked it to Chris, Chris kept it, we put the ball outside and we brought it back, set it up for Fed, and it was such an amazing and great team goal, I was so happy about that.

Finally it's working. Started a very tough beginning, and now we are climbing right where we want to be and right where we want to be with this football team.

Q. As a striker you're at your best scoring goals and the last couple minutes I'm sure we all agree have been difficult. What have those months been like mentally and trying to be focused on what's best for the team?

KACPER PRZYBYLKO: Not the easiest months and past weeks but I'm already very long in this business and I'm very strong mentally and sometimes you have these kind of moments. At the end of the day, it's important to come back. I think I did a great job today. I'm very happy about it but mostly happy for the team. It's also great to have now like another striker and Jhon is doing excellent, too, to have someone in your back pushing, you, too.

Now getting into the playoffs, that's our first goal and I think it's going to be hard now to maintain our level. But also to stay there, and I think it was actually personally also I was very, very surprised that we went down there because when I came here, I have seen so much quality. I think it may -- to get to this chemistry and doing just great times. At the end of the day, no one will ask how we started; it's how we are going to end it, and I think we can end it very, very well this season.

Q. Ezra really praised you for how you handled it when you were dropped from the starting lineup. What was that like for you to be dropped, and what were some of the things you took from that experience that helped you tonight to score the brace?

KACPER PRZYBYLKO: You know, maybe it was what we needed. But at the end of the day like I said I'm very mentally strong and I don't give up. I don't give up. I have also this belief in yourself, and it just means also be yourself and it means like I never give up. I know it's going to be hard to come back after the brace of Jhon, but like I said the most important is the team and the team needs me, whether it's one minute or 90 minutes, I'm going to give 120 percent for the victory for the team.

Happy that we finally got there where we are and yeah, like I said, you need to be mentally very strong in this business. I've been doing it for so long and I think, yeah, I did great, even when Jhon was injured, I stepped up and won the game, also. Very, very happy. We are in a good stretch right now. Let's maintain; let's keep it.