CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

March 22, 2023

Rafael Czichos

Press Conference

Q. Wondering after what happened Saturday night, how do you guys use that moving forward? Is it a wake-up call in is it a reminder of the importance of playing 90 minutes? How do you guys view that and how do you use it moving forward?

RAFAEL CZICHOS: It shows us that we have a lot of work to do and it was really disappointing for a lot of us. It's like, since I'm here, it happened the third time that we give up a second goal lead at home and that's not allowed to happen, especially if you -- if you keep talking about being a playoff team and this is the goal for the season and all this stuff, then it's not allowed that you give up a second goal lead, especially in a game like on Saturday. I think we showed a good performance and then we worked very well as a team. I don't think you were -- were able to see that Cincy has not lost this season. But in the end, it's only one point and we definitely lost two points and didn't win a point. We talked a lot on Sunday and on Tuesday about it, and I think today at practice, we showed a good reaction and this is what we also show on Saturday.

Q. How do you personally feel about the team's general start to the season?

RAFAEL CZICHOS: I can tell you guys, I have a way better feeling with this team on the field than last year. I think we have been showing decent performances against very good teams and there is no reason for us to keep the head down or to be, I don't know, too disappointed.

It's still a long season ahead of us and we drive or we fly with a lot of confidence to Miami, and we want to make the next step in our process and we want to finally win our first game.

Q. Ezra mentioned that Alonzo is looking to be available for selection on Saturday. What have you seen from him in training thus far and why should we be excited to see him play?

RAFAEL CZICHOS: Yeah, you can see that he is a very good left back and he's good with the ball and defensively he's very strong so I'm pretty sure he will help us this year to reach our goals.

It is always difficult for new players to get into a new group after the preseason, during the season. There's not a lot of time to integrate them and we are trying our best and it looks like that he -- that he is also -- that he has also good character and he fits very well in our roster.

So yeah, like I said, I think he will help us this year for sure.

Q. You're the captain of and leader of the team, and things like what happened last week and last season happened, you must be sick of this and what emotion does that bring to you as the leader of the team seeing that the team has struggled to hold two-goal leads?

RAFAEL CZICHOS: Yeah, it's very disappointing and for me as a captain, I am responsible for the structure during the game. I am responsible for, yeah, kind of the performance of the whole team, and when you are up two goals in a game like the game on Saturday, then it's really frustrating.

But I think we have a good team chemistry this year, so like I said, we talked a lot about it. We were honest to each other and this is the most important thing. I think we have found a good solution for the problem and we are not allowed to -- to let it become a bigger mental problem, so if we are squared now, every time we lead a game, especially at home, then we have a problem.

But I think because we talked a lot about it, and like I said, I think we found a good solution for it, you guys will never see it again that we are not going to win a game when we lead with two goals, especially at home.

Q. How weird is it seeing Koln beat Bremen 7-1 in the first game back from the World Cup? How strange did that feel?

RAFAEL CZICHOS: Honestly I lost with Koln and Bremen one day 6-1, so that was tough; and to see that, they got their revenge. Yeah, one side of my heart was happy and the other side was crying. I think it was a crazy game for both teams. Yeah, but still both are playing a decent season, so I think they are still happen he about it.

Q. What do you think about how Carlos and Guti, how they played last game --

RAFAEL CZICHOS: Yeah, especially far Carlos, Carlos is like my little son. He's next to me. I'm trying to help him. He is a big, big talent. I always tell him he has a big future. It's the same like with Guti and both are very important players for us. I'm also excited to see Guti on Saturday, and also for Maren, it was his first start for us and to play a first game like he did, it's good. It shows us that we have got more depth in our roster, and this is very important for us.

Q. This is the third time losing with two points, do you see this as mental pressure?

RAFAEL CZICHOS: It's a tough question. Soccer is a big mental sport and like we said, it happened before twice already but especially after the third goal for us, we should have shown way more confidence and we didn't. Then they put in Acosta and with the substitution, the whole game changed and it's not allowed to happen, especially when you are up two goals. We have to close the game. You have to score another goal. You have to finish it, and we didn't do it.

Like I said, we talked a lot about it and it not allowed to become a big, big problem for us or a big mental thing because then it's going to be difficult.