CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 17, 2026

Gregg Berhalter

Press Conference

Q. Going up against Cal hand, someone you're familiar with from U.S. soccer and you've had some very interesting games against him in your previous three meetings. What are you expecting in this game and going up against him in Nashville?

GREGG BERHALTER: I think that Nashville has been, I think, the best team in the League this year. You know, points indicate that but also I think performance. Very resilient group, they find a way to hang in there and games, a lot of late goals don't give up a ton -- BJ has gone a great job. We know he's a top coach and he's proven that with what he's doing with the team so far this year.

So for us, it's understanding where the space is we need to close are. They have good players. We have good players. So it's how do we close the spaces and then how do we hurt them when we have the ball.

Q. A lot of your assistance from the national team, are youth national team coaches who worked under you, have gone ton to be coaches in MLS. Does that give you any pride that so many coaches have worked under you have gone on to get head coaching jobs?

GREGG BERHALTER: I think that's a certain amount of pride. But when you work with these people, you realize how good they are. And you know, whether that's Mickey, Varas or Marco or BJ or Nico or Josh, some really good coaches. You know, when given the opportunity to prove it, they do so.

And BJ, you know, to me, has been -- has done a great job.

Q. With Anton out from last week, what are some of the challenges you're putting towards Mauricio, Dje and Sergio, without the veterans you guys really wanted to bring in in the off-season?

GREGG BERHALTER: We also have Anzor joining the group. I think that's a positive. With the group we have, there's real positive attributes they all bring to the game. When you think about Mauricio, the control he gives new possession. You think about D'Avilla with the ball winning that he can give you, the dueling, closing down space. When you think about Sergio, it's high-level, line-breaking passing.

So they all give you something, and now it's about, when we are missing Anton, who is a very good player, how do we compensate and how do we find the right balance.

Q. Reflecting on, obviously, the game earlier this season, you're one of the few teams to get a W against Nashville. What do you want to bring from that performance, and what do you want the guys to reflecting on that match versus viewing the game on clean slate and a new game on its own?

GREGG BERHALTER: Yeah, I think we were a lot different that game. We played without a striker that game. Hugo was out and we had Cupps had to come in the 60th minute. We had a planned sub with Jack, who was covering from sepsis.

And you know, right now, we have a deeper squad. So you know, I think that, first and foremost, is important. We have more players to choose from. We have a great attacking group to choose from.

And you know, it's, I think for us, it's about going into a difficult place to get a win and putting on a good performance. Really, really simple. Our intentions stay exactly the same as they do every game that we play. You want to go there and try to win the game.

Q. As far as call-ups for international breaks, obviously Puso was announced, Robyn, Brady, anyone else you expect to be called up? And specifically Robert Lewandowski, do you expect him to stay here for this break, and if so, is there like any plan to have him around?

GREGG BERHALTER: No, I think we'll -- we'll announce the players as they become official. We announced how many already, three, right?

So Anzor, also, is going to be gone. He'll be leaving shortly. And then we'll announce all the rest as they come. But we do expect more. We know Turdean -- has that been announced already? We just broke it. And then other ones, also.

Q. Earlier this year, you said you didn't pay much attention to the table because it was too early. Do you still go one game at a time or now, especially this game with the Supporter Shield standings, are you thinking about the implications of this game in that regard?

GREGG BERHALTER: No, I think for us, it's about, you know, we weren't happy with the result of last game. We weren't happy with parts of the performance of last game. Other parts were excellent, and now it's about how do we bounce back. It's really simple.

For us, we have a great stretch of games coming up, and the only way to navigate this is focus on what's upcoming, and that's a very good Nashville team.

Q. You've been missing Anton the last couple games. You've also been missing Olsen. Any updates when they might be available again, and how do you think the midfield has done where they have to adjust without a player who has been there, effectively, every minute of the season?

GREGG BERHALTER: Anzor is here. So he's available, or he will be available. Anton's out. We know that. And then Olsen is any day now. There's been -- you know, he's about to give birth -- or his wife is about to give birth to his first child. That's, I think, slowing things down but he will be here.

And then the rest of the group, I think, has done well, or did okay last game. There are some parts that we would like back, right, of the game, but other than that, I think Sergio, D'Avilla, did fine. We've got to get some help in there with Johan and Robyn or Maren and just get some numbers in there to help close some of the spaces, and then with the ball, try to move the ball quickly to try to hurt the opponent.

Q. One last thing, Noah talked about the idea of respecting an opponent but not being overwhelmed by them, not being intimidated. How hard is that to impart on a team when you're looking at a team in the top of the table, and who is it within the locker room that may be you're relying on to help get that message across?

GREGG BERHALTER: Yeah, I think in Major League Soccer, the best way to approach each game is just understanding that you can win every game and you can lose every game and you respect every opponent to the utmost -- to the fullest, and we do that. Even no matter who we play, no matter what the table standing is, we prepare in a very similar way. This is no different.

You know, when you think about the difference between the top team and the bottom team, sometimes there's not a ton of difference.

So it's just about being focused, respecting what they bring. They have quality, we know with Muhktar and Sam Surridge and Espinoza and Yazbek, Saad. So they have quality on their team. And for us, it's about -- Najar is another one.

But so do we have. So they have to be saying the same thing us, when they say, okay, we have to face Lewandowski and Zinckernagel, Mbokazi, Selassie, Bamba and Lod, and so it's very similar to what both teams are dealing with. I know BJ is preparing hard and we're preparing hard.

Q. You're not the only former U.S. coach now in market. The Stars just hiring hired Vlatko Andonovski to be their chief soccer officer in the last 20 minutes?

GREGG BERHALTER: An hour ago?

Q. ESPN just broke it?

GREGG BERHALTER: Congratulations. Vlatko is great guy, great coach. I'm excited to see him again.

Q. That's what I was going to --

GREGG BERHALTER: Thank you for sharing that.