CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 30, 2025

Justin Reynolds

Brian Gutierrez

Press Conference

Chicago Fire FC 5, Inter Miami 3

Q. Justin, you just scored one of the biggest goals in Chicago Fire history. You have not played in the MLS since may to get that goal and have that moment, curious and Guti, to see your teammate thrive like that?

JUSTIN REYNOLDS: It's a great feeling, of course. Obviously I've been playing with this club for years since I was like 12. To get us to the playoffs for the first time in like receive especially years, it's an amazing feeling.

Q. How do you feel about seeing Justin score?

BRIAN GUTIÉRREZ: He knows I told him today we're going to have a lot of space behind. I'm super proud of him. I've known him for so long. It's honestly a privilege to be with him, and sharing the same dream on the field, it doesn't happen a lot. So we're privileged, and yeah, so happy for him.

Q. Justin, after the year you've had, the ups and downs, the up certainty, how significant is this for you personally to score one of the most important goals in the history of this club? And Guti, what are your emotions after being part of this team for so many years and not getting to the playoffs, to be in the first time since 2017 what does that mean to you?

JUSTIN REYNOLDS: Yeah, again, it's just a great feeling, of course. I think everyone on the team, like Guti said, I've known him forever. He's helped me a lot and there's a lot of other guys on the team that's done that, coaches have done that. I just thank them for giving me a chance and believing in me. I thank God, as well. It's a great feeling. I'm happy.

BRIAN GUTIÉRREZ: Like Justin said, it's an amazing feeling. We've been in rough paths throughout these past years and me being with the team and being through all these struggles and finally seeing that we reached what he with wanted to do in such a long time, it's honestly a great relief, and yeah, super proud of this team.

Q. You mentioned that you've known each other since you were 12, there were four guys that were in the academy at the same time or near the same times on the pitch at the final whistle. What does it mean to have other guys from Chicago on there, too, being the ones that were there finally carrying the team back to the playoffs?

BRIAN GUTIÉRREZ: I think it's an honor and a privilege for all of us. I think we can all say the same thing; that being all from Chicago and representing your hometown, it's a dream come true as you are coming from Chicago and you strive to make it to the first team. Honestly being all together is honestly, it's an amazing feeling.

JUSTIN REYNOLDS: Like he said, it's an amazing feeling. Obviously we've known each other forever. So it's like family more so than just a teammate. So we all want to fight for each other and win for each other.

Q. Obviously you guys came up in this organization, and this has been a forgot especially franchise in terms of MLS and nationally known, talked about, the Fire. Did you guys have discussions, if you can remember, even in the academy, that hey, one day we're going to be part of this change? Do you take this as a badge of honor that you guys were part of this moment right now and this is something that you maybe talked about years ago that you want to be taking that sort of badge of honor to turn this organization around and give the fans a team to cheer about again?

JUSTIN REYNOLDS: Yeah, it's always something that we think about. So it's a dream come true to do it and I think we have all fought and earned this opportunity.

BRIAN GUTIÉRREZ: Yeah, I think what we've been through and what we have come through, I think it's honestly amazing and seeing with discipline and overcoming obstacles, you always see the results.

Q. You've been with the club for such a long time. I'd love to know how you think coach Greg has impacted the squad and managed the first target which is qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since to 17?

JUSTIN REYNOLDS: I think Coach has come in and instilled like a culture in the locker room. We always talk about that, how we want to go out on the field and play and how we want to be off the field as well. So I think from like the root up, he's changed the club. Yeah, he's going a great job.

BRIAN GUTIÉRREZ: I think what he said. I think the most important thing was the culture and having that bond with the whole team. I think recent times, we didn't have that, and it showed on the field. You don't see that camaraderie. And I think that culture was a big asset to what we needed and, you know, putting his philosophies and having a structure, and yeah, I think that's the most important thing.

Q. What do you think of playing against a lot of players like Messi and Suarez that maybe you play on PlayStation or you watch a lot during your time when you were a young boy?

JUSTIN REYNOLDS: Yeah, it's an honor to share the field with them. Obviously, like you said, they are great prayers, but it's one of them things, it's like when you are on the field, you have to just look at them as any other opponent. And of course, it hard when it Messi but I try my best not to like idolize anyone on the field, and then after the game, you can do all that, that was amazing, that was such a good opportunity.

Q. Just this team has a lot of players like you, not only young, also guys that came from the down teams. It's another philosophy difference, what they are doing, signing great players, great staff. So how do you feel when you came here, you score five goals against those monsters and how was the party, the celebration inside the locker room? Do you have something to tell about that?

JUSTIN REYNOLDS: I think it's a great opportunity. It's a great moment, only. It shows all the hard work we've been putting in this training. I think we deserved it and earned it. FastScripts by ASAP Sports ...