CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

April 13, 2024

Frank Klopas

Press Conference

New York Red Bulls 0, Chicago Fire FC 0

Q. Initial thoughts on the game?

FRANK KLOPAS: On the road, you always take the point. You know, I mean, I thought the first half we were -- took us a little bit to get into the game. Once we got into the game I thought we were organized. We had some really good moment.

And then obviously the red card, not changed things, but I think that, you know, I think then they played a little bit where they sat back and they looked at transition a lot more.

You know, we tried to push the game, and we pushed the game late and then I think we took some risk at times as you're pushing the game and I felt that we could have done a little bit better job when we played with the two strikers that, you know, we move the ball well and then at some point when we get the ball from one side to the other, we have to either take -- get more crosses in the box and try to provide more service to the strikers. We were shifting them. We were moving them but then the penetration of the crosses I felt we could have gotten -- done a better job with that and giving our strikers opportunities to get the goal.

But then, look, you take the point, we've built on this as a team, and now we have to regroup and focus on the next three games at home.

Q. Overall would you say it's a missed opportunity to be able to find a goal?

FRANK KLOPAS: I think you take a point. Of course you always want to get the three points. But as you're pushing the game, you always have to be disciplined. We took some risk in moments and then you could just see, I think they are a team in transition that they were good, and they also had their chances as we pushed forward.

But in the end, yeah, you feel like every time you step on the field you want to get the three points. But we'll take the point on the road against a good team and we'll build on this and for sure, we have to find somewhere to get the points that we dropped at home against Cincy.

Q. How do you think your team responded in the second half to all the physicality in the game?

FRANK KLOPAS: We knew it was going to be a physical match. Even before we came in here, the duels, we talked about winning individual battles, the duels, the second balls. This is the type of game that we knew we were going to base but there was no issue. I think it was a good physical match. I think it was really competitive from both sides, good energy, and I didn't see anything. We felt good and I think our team is prepared to play any type of match.

Q. I just want to know, Xherdan the last two games, I thought I played pretty well, and the last game as well. What do you think it is you can do to get the best out of him when he's been inconsistent his last three years?

FRANK KLOPAS: I think he was very good today. He was committed. He worked extremely hard. The last game, he obviously had a big impact and you know, we get the ball to him in spots up the field and I felt today he was more dynamic and he was attacking the space. He was very aggressive, and you know, he always has the ability to provide that final pass, and I think he got in some good spots today.

He had some good opportunities, some shots that they were blocked, and you know, as long as he's aggressive and he's playing like that, I think we'll see he's always going to contribute and be a really big factor for us, and we need him to be at his best in order for us to really be a team that's competing and contending in the end for trophies.

Q. Any updates on Maren after he went down with that injury?

FRANK KLOPAS: No. We'll evaluate tomorrow. It's a calf injury. We have to see. It's hard to say right now.