CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 17, 2026

Noah Allen

Press Conference

Q. Over the last couple weeks, what have you taken away from the training sessions, and can you talk about the progress you've seen with this group over the 10, 15 days you've been here?

NOAH ALLEN: Yeah, first of all, everything has been great so far, in regards to getting accustomed and stuff. That's one of the trickier parts, you know, especially like being the first time moving. So everything has been great in that regard. Obviously we've had a good amount of games in a short period, and you know, a lot of them are results that we may not have wanted to get.

So that's kind of been a little difficult thing where it's like, no, you want to get results and they are not coming for the team yet. But overall, you could feel like the togetherness in the team and Coach has done a great job emphasizing that and emphasizing that, you know, we can move on and start to pick up form and no, everything has been great so far in the last, like, 10, 15 days, like you said.

Q. We've seen you play left center back and left back in these last couple games. Curious last one, you moved from left back to left center back at halftime. What was that adjustment like for new game and as you're still getting used to your new teammates as well?

NOAH ALLEN: Yeah, I mean, it's something that I'm very familiar with. I played both positions throughout my career. And whenever the coach needs me to do that, or you know, to play one position or a different position, you know, I'm going to do my best at it and try to give my hundred percent at it. And whatever the games give us, as well, you know, I feel like I can play at different strengths and different positives that I can hopefully give the team to whatever the coach needs.

Q. A lot of times when a transfer happens, you go to a team that's lower standings or whatnot but here you come from a championship organization with a global superstar to an organization that has championship aspirations with a global superstar. Have you noticed similarities? It's a short time since you've been here, but do you see that sort of championship mentality about the Chicago Fire?

NOAH ALLEN: Yeah, that was ultimately the biggest positive was that coming to a team that has the aspiration to win the MLS Cup and to has the quality to win on the field and off the field, the group of guys have been great. Our coach and coaching staff has been great. The facilities and the city so far has been unbelievable.

Similarities, off the top of my head, I kind of difficult to give you them, but I will say that this group is hungry. I'm a player that's hungry to help, and I'm someone that wants to win games. I want to win championships, and you know, I've had that taste of victory last year with Inter Miami. I want nothing less than that this year with Chicago Fire.

Q. Obviously big challenge coming up with Nashville, having been in the Eastern Conference, you're no stranger to them. Curious your perspective as a defender and what particular challenges they present and what a player like you has to be really focused on when taking on this team?

NOAH ALLEN: Yeah, they are a very challenging team. You know, they are in first for a reason and deservingly so. They are very good. They have got a front three or four that really, really puts pressure on the defense and they are also very compact and they are very organized defensively. And yeah, I've played them a lot in the last two years, I would say, and every single game has been very difficult. I think one main focus is that, you know, for the full 90-plus minutes, you have to be on your toes and you have to be aware. I think there can't be a second in the game where anyone is not focused or not ready for a run in behind or different movements because they present a lot as a team.

I think Coach said it best in one of our meetings; that we can respect them and give them the praise they ultimately deserve, but we shouldn't be scared of them at all because we can beat them, ultimately, at the end of the day.

Q. While you spent a long time with a number of players in Miami and now you're spending time with Lewandowski and other stars here in Chicago, have been your first interactions with Lewandowski and the other Chicago players?

NOAH ALLEN: Yeah, he's an amazing guy, first of all. Like you said, I've played with some amazing players and the best player in the world, as well. But to play and speak to Robert, as well, is something very big for me. I consider him one of the best strikers in history. Looking at his stats and accolades, he's someone I'm very happy to play with.

At the end of the day, I want to give him assists and I want to provide and do the best for him, and the team, as well. Because I know when he has success and he's scoring goals, the team is going to do good at the end of the day. Him and everyone -- I could speak about him, but I think everyone, the whole group in general, has been very welcoming, very nice, and just great for me to settle in.

Obviously it's difficult. It's a short time. We're towards the end of the season. It's always a difficult transition but everything has been very, very good for me so far in that regard, as a person, and everyone as a person.

Q. What has been the biggest adjustment coming from South Florida to Chicago, different food, culture, the biggest adjustment, city to city, the locker room?

NOAH ALLEN: The city has been great and honestly everything has been great. I would say that the biggest adjustment is like the normal things, like not having a car yet, and you know, living in a home and trying to find apartments and stuff and places to live.

So I mean, that's just the normal stuff. I think the city has been great. I rode my bike on the shoreline the other day. It was beautiful. People were walking around. It was -- I know the weather gets cold, but it's so familiar to South Florida.

Honestly it's been great. I have nothing but positive things to say about that, and yeah, the biggest adjustments have just been, you know, the normal stuff that goes on in a transfer when someone is moving to a different city.

You know, I always difficult when you're not -- when you don't have your stuff or you don't have a car, like that stuff is difficult. The club has been helping me with rides and getting my car over here and making me feel as comfortable as possible.

So honestly, no real big adjustments to where you know it's like super stressful. Everything has been good so far.

Q. Curious about the defensive room that you have with Jack and Sam who are healthy and available right now. You also have Andrew, Johnny, Leo available. What kind of camaraderie is there building between that group where it's camaraderie, but you are all also competing for minutes with one another?

NOAH ALLEN: , competition is the most important thing. You never want to not have competition because then it doesn't make you better. Competition makes you better as a player. I think everyone under -- like from what I seen, everyone wants to win. You know, and that competition is helping that and that our No. 1 goal is to win the games and to make the MLS Cup and to win trophies. I think when everyone has that same goal, you know, everyone is kind of aligned and that helps in the game and with camaraderie off the field. I would say that everyone has the same goal and that's the most important thing that I have gotten so far.

Q. Another international break coming up and no Greek Under 21 roster yet but always a chance you'll be involved with that. Can you speak about what it's been like representing and learning the language and getting along with your teammates and stuff like that?

NOAH ALLEN: Yeah, it's been amazing. I tell people like it's one of the best decisions I've made, just to be able to represent my grandfather, and to go there and make whole new friendships and stuff like that and to play in Euro qualifiers has been something special to me.

Yeah, I hope I go again and make more memories and ultimately qualify and we have a goal as a team there to make the country of Greece proud and to qualify for the Under 21 Euros. So we have three games, and that's going to be my biggest goal if I go over there.