CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 19, 2026

Anzor Mekvabishvili

Press Conference

Nashville 3, Chicago Fire FC 0

Q. Your MLS debut, what are your first impressions coming in and what have the last couple days been like for you?

ANZOR MEKVABISHVILI: First of all, I'm very thankful that I had a first game. It was not easy for me because also we were waiting for a visas, just coming back three games and directly before the game, it's a big pleasure. Hopefully we will have better games because also everybody is sad because of the result.

I think in the future, we'll be better.

Q. And what are your expectations now, already going back for the international break in this very quick turnaround you've had with these quick run of games?

ANZOR MEKVABISHVILI: Yeah, it's not easy, like this, because I wished that I had more time now.

But hopefully I will be healthy. I'll try to make good games, as well in the national team. So it will be also good for the Chicago, and also for me because if I be better shape and if I play better here and there as well, so it will be better for everybody.

Q. What were expectations for your first MLS game and what met expectations? What was a little different than what you expected over the last few weeks coming here?

ANZOR MEKVABISHVILI: First of all, the league is very good, and because of the teams and because of the player qualities. And I think these kind of teams, and also us and also other teams, are getting some kind of quality of the league.

From the beginning, I was impressed how good is this league. So I really want to make it again as soon as possible.

Q. Number 23 in Chicago, any significance to that number?

ANZOR MEKVABISHVILI: Yeah, of course, it's like historical but it's also my daughter's birthday. So it's quite with a lot of things on it.

So for me, it's like a number that I have to carry on and I would say it's a big number, you know, for Chicago, I know. I will try to make it like it is and like it was.

Q. Can you tell me what attracted you to the project in Chicago and what you were told about what it is you were walking into, and your first impressions of the club?

ANZOR MEKVABISHVILI: As I said, it's a big club, big players have played, even now, and a lot of good players. The league is developing, and for me to come here, to play, to compete, to try to be one of the best in the League, it's like a kind of challenge.

And also the facilities the treatment of the players is very high level. So there is everything for the player to develop his self and try to make the things and trophies and stuff.