CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

October 8, 2026

Gregg Berhalter

Press Conference

Q. Is everybody back from the international break?

GREGG BERHALTER: Yeah, everybody is back from international break. Unfortunately Robin Lod sustained an injury with the Finnish team, so he's going to be out. Everyone is else is back. We're waiting on his status.

Q. And Andre, obviously back on the active roster now, but what's his status in terms of getting back on the field?

GREGG BERHALTER: Week by week, we have to start increasing his load. It's a big boost to the squad to have him potentially coming back, so just keep pushing.

Q. Curious with now a really packed-out center back room, would there ever be a consideration of adjusting formation in the back or are you just committed to going with two center backs and letting the guys compete at left back, as well and not really go to a back five, potentially?

GREGG BERHALTER: We'll see. I think it's good option to have that, and we do have more center backs now, so it's always a good option. We did it last year as well at times. We're flexible. I wouldn't rule anything out.

Q. Taking a step back for a second. It's two years since you were first announced as being the director of football and coach for the Chicago Fire, and at that point you said you wanted to build something that we could all be proud of. Could you reflect on the progress you've made over the last two years towards that goal?

GREGG BERHALTER: Yeah, I mean, I think it starts with good people, and you know, we have a great staff across the entire club. That's the foundation, we're trying to accomplish what we set out to do. There's obviously been some progress made, and you know, I think that the trajectory is trending positive.

We have a tremendous amount of support from the owner with our facilities and roster building and staff building. It's been very positive, and for us, you get caught in the moment. For us, it's focusing on these last couple weeks, closing out the season.

But I think that's been some good work so far in the group.

Q. So when you go out and sign a guy like Andrés who is not a guy you're signing for a lot of money to sit on the bench, what's your message to Mbokazi and others?

GREGG BERHALTER: I think you hit the nail on the head by saying they are starters. They have had opportunities and they are going to continue to have opportunities. In this league, you need a roster that has depth, and when Andrés gets back, when we have everyone fit and healthy, we have a very good roster.

Q. With the center backs, how important is it when you don't have a classic striker like Robert would be, to have those outlets on the side that you can use the finesse and speed of Johan?

GREGG BERHALTER: For us, we've identified some weaknesses in Vancouver, and we are trying to exploit some weaknesses. We knew they were a very good defensive team but we also knew that were going to have some problems facing their own goal, and we wanted to get in turn and play behind them.

Q. So Maren had a goal and assist in the last game. He's now the sixth highest goal contributor in Fire history. His contract such at the end of the season. How do you feel about negotiating with him and bringing him back next season?

GREGG BERHALTER: Yeah, well, I'm not sure this is the way we wanted to do it but we've reached on agreement with Maren, and you know, he's going to be staying a Chicago Fire player. Not only is a good player, he's a tremendous person. He's one of these guys that helps bind the team together. He can play multiple positions. So for us, this long-term contract extension is a great signing for the club.

Q. What do you want some of these young guys to learn from a guy like Maren who has continually shown an ability to stay on the field and be flexible in multiple roles?

GREGG BERHALTER: Yeah, I just think it's a great of example of just being a team player and being in it for good of the group. He'll adapt to what the team needs at the time. There were times he wasn't playing and needed to stay positive and keep working, and he did that.

One of the challenges with Maren was the coaching staff believing in him and really pushing him for more because we believe he had another level in him. I think now you're starting to see that, as well.

Q. Does it help at this point in MLS to have guys like Maren or guys like Andrés coming in at the peaks of their career and seeing those peaks realized in Major League Soccer, given the reputation of the league at the time, and some people still say it's a retirement league?

GREGG BERHALTER: I think, you know, it's always difficult to sign players in their prime. And when you do so, when they believe in the project, I think it's a good sign for Major League Soccer and its perception around the world. It's a strong league. It's a mix between very good young players and older players. When you can get players in that middle age, it really helps the league.

Q. NYC FC has been a very difficult league for the Chicago Fire to play ever since they came into the league. What do you think is the recipe this week to breaking that difficult run against them?

GREGG BERHALTER: I think every game is its own unique story, right, and we try not to look at the past results as a predictor of future results, right. So how do we focus on a game plan and how do we engage and play with intensity in the game.

You know, we just played on Tuesday. I think the guys are in good spirits, and it's now about continuing it on this week.

Q. At this point in the season, you've faced pretty much every time in the conference at least once. The performance like what the team had in July against NYC FC, where it felt like they didn't really have a lot that was connecting, even though there were moments of good play, does that help light a fire under everyone to provide an extra boost or motivation to get three points and get a little bit of revenge against a conference opponent?

GREGG BERHALTER: We know the implications of this game. It's a big game. Again, I don't think we need to necessarily go back to the past but we weren't happy with that performance. We weren't happy with conceding goals. Especially the plaintiff, it wasn't a performance you wanted to be down 3-1. But to be able to remain 3-1, we weren't happy with.

This is a different game. They are going to be a different team. We'll be a different team.

Q. Are you exciting about having a day game, a little bit of a change? It's been a lot of night games in 2026.

GREGG BERHALTER: I think it's a great opportunity for all the people around the marathon to relax in the afternoon, come out and see a game, and then get a good night rest and get pasta and prepare for the marathon. I think there's 50,000 people running the marathon. I'm sure some of them would love to come to the game.