CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

August 19, 2026

David Poreba

Press Conference

Chicago Fire FC 2, Orlando City 1

Q. First of all, your MLS debut, first MLS minutes, how did it feel to be out there for the minutes you got?

DAVID POREBA: Just amazing. For me, it's especially been a long journey, coming from an ACL tear last year. It's just I didn't know if this moment to come to be honest. So I'm just super grateful to the organization, the club, the staff, for not only the opportunity today but the opportunity to come back to the team in general, and fight for minutes this year.

Q. When did you find out from Gregg that you would be starting the game? Curious what the emotions were, given the long journey you've had to this point?

DAVID POREBA: Found out in the meeting today. So it was, you know, a little bit of a surprise but you know, I was ready. So it didn't matter.

Q. To get that assist, to find out earlier today that it was going to be your first start, can you just talk us through that emotional roller coaster, and to leave with three wins after an hour-and-50-minute delay, is this as crazy of first start, first assist that you could have?

DAVID POREBA: For sure, I think it was in the third minute, and it was my second touch. So not a bad start at all. I almost got mad at Puso for not playing me through because I would have been in one-on-one with the keeper.

But I was just happy that he scored, and that's all that mattered. And it was a great start to the game. I think overall, we played very well as a team.

So I mean, that's all that matters, the three points at the end of the day.

Q. Quick reality check, in your wildest dreams, did you ever think your first start would be with Robert Lewandowski in the lineup with you?

DAVID POREBA: I'll be completely honest: No, I did not. Obviously he's my favorite player growing up, being of Polish descent. Looked up to him my whole journey as an academy player. You know, watching him play for Poland, for Borussia, for Bayern and Barce (Barcelona). Honestly it's surreal but it shows you that life, there's -- you can have surprises and at the end of the day, I'm just super grateful because after all I've been through, as well, I just -- it's an amazing, amazing moment for me.

Q. I wanted to ask you about Robert Lewandowski, if he gave you any advice, and also if you spoke Polish with him?

DAVID POREBA: What was the first question?

Q. Did he give you guys?

DAVID POREBA: He definitely talked to me before the game, motivated me, and told me to just stay calm and play my game.

And yeah, you know, we do speak Polish together. It's crazy. You go from looking up to this guy your whole life, and then now you're friends and teammates with him. It's amazing, and I only have good things to say about him. Everyone knows him as a fantastic footballer, but you know, people should know that he's an amazing person, and that's where it starts.

So just truly grateful to have a relationship with him.

Q. How do you manage playing in the humid -- and the break was 40 minutes, how do you stay concentrated before the game?

DAVID POREBA: I'll be honest, for the first half was tough. The humidity here is insane. It didn't even feel that hot but just the humidity, it's like you're trapped in the air. It was crazy.

I think as a team, we did super well to obviously start the game off well, score a goal, take the lead, but then go -- obviously with the delay and everything, I think the fact that we won this game and played well and fought so hard just shows the mentality of this team. And of course, having good -- or having a lot of talent is important, but the best teams win with the mentality.

So I think honestly the sky is the limit for this team and there's bigger things ahead for sure.