CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

May 31, 2023

Frank Klopas

Press Conference

Toronto FC 0, Chicago Fire FC 0

Q. I know we're probably here to talk about tonight's game but I do have a question about the quick turnaround. You guys are going on the road to take on Cincy. Can you just talk about what it will be like to play them at their home? I know it's a very quick turnaround, so maybe speak to what that preparation looks like.

FRANK KLOPAS: Yeah, I think the important thing, we've played a lot of games especially with the Open Cup and I think we just have to assess how the players will be. It's a really quick turnaround and then we have to make some decisions, prepare, do a lot of work on the video and come up with a really good game plan and be really clear with everyone. I think recovery, that's the only thing in our mind, and it's starting right now after the game. We'll assess how everyone is feeling and make some decisions for the game.

But we have a lot of guys that have logged a lot of minutes, and it's normal, they are playing with, you know, certain things that they are not a hundred percent, which is probably the case for almost a lot of teams that we play right now.

But we have a lot of games and we have to assess the next couple days how everyone is feeling.

Q. Last couple games, I think it was 17 goals in the last four games before today. Felt like this one never really got started from either team. Why do you think that was and what are your thoughts on the outcome?

FRANK KLOPAS: Yeah, I think the outcome, I'll start with that, I think the outcome is always positive when you're on the road, the amount of games that we played and then you get a point, that's always a positive and a clean sheet.

I think when you watch the game, I felt both teams looked heavy-legged, so there were a lot of turnovers that probably would not have happened if we were -- I think from both sides. I'm just going to speak about our team. I think that we probably had turnovers with the ball that we normally don't make and that's probably because the players, you know, they are carrying a lot of minutes. They are heavy-legged and sometimes things like that do happen.

But you know, I think the effort was great again. I think our sharpness wasn't there in certain moments where we had some good breaks and we got in some good spots. But listen, we continued to play until the end. Clean sheet, we take a point, and so those are positives, and we continue to grow step-by-step. Can't change things overnight, step-by-step. But all these things are positive, a clean sheet, getting a point. I look at that as a positive outcome.

We wanted the three, we wanted to push in the right away in certain moments to try to get the three, but also learn from the past that managing the game was very important and always walking away with points.

Q. I would like to find out how is Chris Brady doing and if Mauricio will be available for the next game. What's your opinions about having a lot of injured players in the team already at this point of the season?

FRANK KLOPAS: Yeah, well, okay, Mauricio, I don't think he'll be ready for Cincy, but I keep my fingers crossed. I think we might have him for the Open Cup match. That's a positive.

The question with Chris Brady, he got hit in the head. He's not on any concussion protocol, but he needed to get 14 stitches, so you know, I told him that he's a good-looking guy, maybe it's going to make him better looking, I don't know how he looks at it. But he got 14 stitches, but no concussion protocol with him.

Yeah, we're dealing probably with stuff that every other team is dealing with at the moment. I think, I'm hoping that maybe we'll get a couple guys back soon. That should help. But it is what it is. You know, we rely on the whole team and we've talked about this from day one; that everybody has got to be ready because it's a long season and injuries will happen with the amount of games. There's nothing that we can do. We just have to hope that some guys can comeback, evaluate tomorrow, and get ready for the game Saturday.

Q. Spencer steps in today, only the second time in the League this season. Do you have any comments about his performance, and if you do need to play him at the weekend or the Open Cup game, what does it do for his confidence?

FRANK KLOPAS: I have a hundred percent confidence in Spencer. He's an experienced goalkeeper and he can step in. He's proven that. You've seen that in the big Cup matches he's played. He's experienced.

I think it's not an easy position because I think there's so much with timing and so when you play games, I think your sharpness, your timing, is much better, so him having an opportunity to come in in a difficult spot due to an injury, came in, I felt he did a great job, and I think these are important minutes for him, whether it's for the game Saturday or for the Open Cup match. I think this will only keep him sharper.