CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 27, 2023

Frank Klopas

Press Conference

Q. Curious just the availability for the team going into the match versus Red Bulls, and curious, what your expecting from a side that's under different management from the last time these two teams faced off, so I'm curious if you're expecting anything different?

FRANK KLOPAS: As far as the players, I think, look, the good news, there's some good news with Guti. I think the MRI, the really good news, structurally there was no dabbling to the ligaments or the meniscus. That's a really good sign.

Obviously with the way he went down and the way his knee went kind of backwards, he has some bruising and some swelling in the knee. He's day-to-day. He came out a little bit today to jog. We just have to see how the next couple days really go for him.

And also with Rafa, I think he's day-to-day. He came out and participated in some of the training today. He still has discomfort in the knee and swelling a little bit, so we are also being very careful with him.

You know, I think the positive is with Guti, long term that there's not really any structural damage, which is fantastic for a young player like him or for any player. Both those guys are really day-to-day.

And far as your second question from the Red Bulls, no, I think their DNA, whoever they bring in, I think their philosophy, it's a team that's going to be very direct; that's going to really challenge for every ball. Second balls become really important.

They are a team that's really very good in transition. They are very direct. And you know, I mean, we have to expect a physical game going into it. I expect nothing different from what I had seen from them or something from the past because they really kind of stick to their DNA as a club, going back to the Red Bull Leipzig, Salzburg, also, with them.

Q. Against the Revolution, you were able to end that goal drought that was going on for way too long. Does that performance give you confidence that you can get the wins that you need in the last matches to make that final push?

FRANK KLOPAS: I think the performance was really good. I think we made obviously the necessary changes because of the injuries, but I thought the guys performed extremely well. I mean, the only negative part about it was the injury to Guti, but there's a positive, what I talked about before is that it showed that structurally after the MRI, everything is intact and looks really good.

It's good to have gotten the two goals, and you know, I think that we were a little bit unlucky with some of the bounces for them to get back into the game.

But I thought that we had really good moments we created with those two goals, but we had other opportunities that, again, it's just some decision-making, execution, you know, could be a little bit better to give us better opportunities in front of goal.

It's going to be a different game. I think all the way to the end now, I think every match, for every team that's in almost a similar situation to us, everyone is fighting for that playoff spot. You know, we are playing on the road. It's never easy but we have proven before that we can go into difficult places and win.

I'm preparing the players for exactly what they are going to face, and they have to be ready and we have to approach this game the final and leave everything on the field.

We do have confidence, and I do believe in the group; and whoever we put, I believe they are going to leave everything on the field to try to get a result for us which we'll need. Obviously, as you know, the season is winding down, the points right now become very important.

Q. Formationally, there's been a little rotation with Alonso and Miguel on the left, and Arnaud and Johnny on the right. Curious how those competitions have been going in training this week and possible expectations for both sides of the attack and defense.

FRANK KLOPAS: Yeah, I just think competition brings out the best in players. I thought Johnny had a good game against New England, and I think with Dean, you know what you're always going to get from him. He just leaves his heart on the field for the team -- (technical interruption).

I just think both players, I think competition, I think we try to create it in every spot, really good competition, and I think both those spots you have players that really are competing hard to get on the field. The players are healthy and I think we still have a couple more days to make that decision but I felt that Johnny had a really strong performance, and so did Miguel, last game.

Q. Cory Burke always seems to score against the Fire. I think after Kei Kamara, he scored more goals against the Fire than anyone else. Is that something you discuss going into the game or that you're thinking about, or does that just kind of happen?

FRANK KLOPAS: No, I don't discuss the top players. This guy that scores always against us. No. I think every game is a little bit different.

But regardless of who they put out there, I think that, you know, I think we just have to be ready for it.