CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

October 8, 2026

Andreas Hanche-Olsen

Press Conference

Q. Why was this the right time to come to Chicago and what are your thoughts on the team especially after the weekend's win?

ANDREAS HANCHE-OLSEN: I think, first of all, it's a good club at the moment and has been and it feels like it's going in a very good direction. I've been very impressed since day one how I've been welcomed and how things are run here. It's a bunch of competent people and a very nice group, so I'm pretty satisfied.

Q. How do you see yourself fitting in on the football side of things, just being here for a couple days?

ANDREAS HANCHE-OLSEN: Obviously with the family situation and stuff, I haven't had much time, but getting it now again and being ready as fast as possible and feeling good with my experience and my defensive work, so I'm really excited about this.

Q. What specific attributes do you think you bring in the center back group that they may be lacking right now?

ANDREAS HANCHE-OLSEN: From what I've seen, it doesn't feel like there's much lacking. Here. Maybe I can -- hopefully I can contribute with my qualities, especially the defensive parts in duels, and that's my strength in the game to win, to keep it tight in the back.

Q. What about the competition --

ANDREAS HANCHE-OLSEN: The defenders, I see it as good competition, and I'm ready for it. And ready to show what I can do, as well.

Q. Welcome to Chicago. I know it's only been a couple of days but I just wanted to get your impressions. You were here for one MLS match. What are your impressions of the league and how does that connect to what you expected from your familiarity with the league, whatever that was, before signing and before coming here?

ANDREAS HANCHE-OLSEN: Yeah, I've learned a lot of things the last weeks and it was great to be in the squad the last game and see how it felt being close to the pitch and being close to the game. I was actually really impressed by the intensity and -- and the quality, as well. I don't feel -- I don't feel a difference in tempo from -- from where I played before.

So I think that it goes to show that this -- this is a great league and very, very good teams with individual quality, and also -- also well organized. So I was really impressed by my teammates, as well. I think many, many very, very good players, and yeah, I'm really excited about this.

Q. And one guy I wanted to talk to you about, you played against one of your new teammates in November, Anzor Mekvabishvili, have you had a chance a chance to talk about that or what experiences and what insight you might be able to provide for us about a guy that we haven't seen that much of yet.

ANDREAS HANCHE-OLSEN: We met for the first time yesterday, actually. We played a game against each other. He got to tell me that they beat us, and they -- he's right to do so. No, he's a good guy, and he seems like -- I remember him a bit from the game, as well. He's an aggressive and intense player, so I think he will help us a lot.

Q. I'm also curious, what did you hear from other players that maybe you played with or maybe former players here before you came here when they spoke to you about playing for this team and in this league?

ANDREAS HANCHE-OLSEN: Yeah, I mean, I played with Hugo, who was here for a while. We played together and he only had good things to say about the group and about the club and what we're trying to achieve here. He was very positive, and of course, yeah, I already knew I made a good decision but it's also good to hear from somebody that you know.

Q. And another thing I was curious about, how hard is it to get back into the mode of first team football after not playing competitive matches, going back to last December?

ANDREAS HANCHE-OLSEN: Yeah, it was a difficult year for me last year. It was tough with the injuries and not being able to play. So I think I've had a good preseason now where I've been able to train everything and now -- now a bit of a break, as well, with the family situation and waiting for a visa and everything.

So no, it was frustrating. But I feel like I'm in the perfect place now to really get back to it and perform at my level again.

Q. And the Fire do have several players from other Northern European countries. How helpful is that?

ANDREAS HANCHE-OLSEN: Of course, it's very helpful for me to have some familiar guys that speak Norwegian and Danish and Swedish and whatnot, so that helps a lot. They have been very nice in the beginning. The whole group has been very welcoming from day one, so I feel very welcomed and yeah, it just seems like a great environment and a good place to be.

Q. Anything you're excited to do in Chicago in your first few months?

ANDREAS HANCHE-OLSEN: We're getting settled and finding a place to live and bank account and all this stuff, which you need. But settling in here well, so I'm excited to check out the city. I've seen a bit already, and it's kind of crazy, actually. I don't think there is a city like this in Europe. So it's kind of new to me. It's something I'm looking forward to exploring for sure.