CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 26, 2026

Johan Gómez

Press Conference

Chicago Fire FC 1, Charlotte 0

Q. Talk about your first goal in the MLS.

JOHAN GOMEZ: I feel really good. I was telling Apple TV that the best feeling right now is the win because it was a bit annoying that I felt like the team was doing good before I got here and then we went on a little bit of a skid, starting in Toronto, and I think there was already two games before that that we had drawn.

I'm someone who looks internally, so even if I had not necessarily played 90 minutes all games, I was looking at myself like maybe I'm the bad luck charm. So I'm glad to be able to help the team with the goal today and three points.

Q. You played a lot as a striker when you were younger; is it one thing you kick off when you join a new club?

JOHAN GOMEZ: I think so. Especially as a striker, like last game I came in as an attacking right back, so it's a big change. But when I'm playing as a striker or even as a second striker, it's just kind of like my nature. That's what I grew up playing. I'm a flexible player, a utility player; but I don't have to study that position. It's kind of in my nature. I felt really comfortable, and it was nice to score the goal for sure.

Q. Curious, you get the goal but the work rate that was required to see out the game, how important was it for you to find that extra energy in the ten minutes or the final seven minutes or so after getting the goal and wanting that result to be a win?

JOHAN GOMEZ: Yeah, it was painful for the body, I would say, having to see it through. I haven't played 90 minutes in a while, I think since last season in Germany. Definitely felt the legs cramping up a little bit.

But luckily, I think we were -- like you said, we were able to see it through and that was the most important thing. That was our motto this week, "Running for our teammates and" that's what we wanted to do for the end.

Q. Gregg talked about seizing the moment and the opportunities. How do you think you fared in that, given you were given a massive opportunity to be the?

JOHAN GOMEZ: My dad used to always tell me, "Just because you scored doesn't mean you played well." I'll have to look back at my performance before I can really answer that question.

Obviously it's easy to say that I took advantage of it because I scored, and maybe a lot of people will say that. But maybe it is true at the end of the day. You know, the wins are what matters.

But on an individual level, I'll have to see if I really had a good performance, but I'd like to think I took advantage today.

Q. That was a very political answer. You did play well. Safe travels.

JOHAN GOMEZ: Thank you. Appreciate it.

Q. Any extra little motivation from seeing your brother score twice in the last couple weeks from left back?

JOHAN GOMEZ: Yeah, anyone who knows me knows that my brother is my absolute best friend and I'm always rooting for him. It's a little bit of a pain now and now my family -- the German League plays at 1:00 Germany time so. You have to wake up at 6:00 a.m. Chicago time.

It's been painful, but he's been making it worth it because he scores and plays well. It's definitely extra motivation, and I have to keep up with him, though.