CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

October 22, 2026

Gregg Berhalter

Press Conference

Q. Atlanta United, first of this final stretch of four games, what's your prep for this game and expectations for this opponent?

GREGG BERHALTER: As I get to this time of the clear, things start to become clear and you start to position yourself, and each game has its own, I think, implication on where you're going to finish in the season for both teams.

So we know that Atlanta a good team, and we know they have quality in their group and they are going to be desperate for a win. For us, it's going to be about how do we come to terms with that and embrace that and still go out and play our game.

Q. We just spoke with Anzor for a bit. How has he come in and been the same or different from what you expected from him and what do you expect is going to be his role going forward in the rest of the season?

GREGG BERHALTER: I think he's done a great job integrating in the group. Professional player. You can see his quality in training, and we expect him to be making an impact with the group.

Q. What has it been like in Year 2 with this group where you have so much talent coming in at this part of the year, and now there is the postseason push to get those guys integrated while also maintaining some semblance of good form going into the postseason?

GREGG BERHALTER: It's a good question. The group has been growing and improving while integrating new players into it, and that has been I think the key. It's not perfect but what we are looking for in coaching, the coaching staff, is looking to say improvement, I think improving towards something. We've definitely seen that. There's a lot of promising signs with this group and hopefully we continue this momentum in the last four games as we build into the playoffs. I think if we do, that we are going to be in a good spot.

Q. How crucial is a week like this where you don't have a midweek match and you can have more training reps and sessions with these new players and integrating them?

GREGG BERHALTER: It was a great week. You know, coming off of the four matches in ten days, it was nice to have some training time. I think we have been able to make the impact that we've been looking for, and again, as I mentioned, for us, it's really good just keep moving forward and keep trying to make strides and integrate with the new players and can keep improving as a group. And this is an important week to do that.

Q. On Robert, what impact has he had, especially for the young players? You've had a lot of young players come through the academy in previous years. What kind of impact can a player like that have, seeing what he does up close and personal and how he prepares to be the best version of himself?

GREGG BERHALTER: I think just listening to his perspective on things, on the team, on watching his training habits, watching his preparation. There's so much to learn from him. I know the guys are doing that. Some of the younger players, to see a guy who is 38 years old and plays in four games in ten days, and still out training and doing extra after training, it just shows why he's made it this far, and you know, great example to all the players but I think people outside the team, just to see that much hard work and dedication from a player.

Q. So last year and this year, earlier this year, you identified having competition at every position, was one of the things you were looking to grow in the group. Where do you think the roster is? What's your assessment of the team?

GREGG BERHALTER: I think the idea of the roster build was to create competition in each position. You know, I think we've done that. When I look at us trying to pick a team, it becomes challenging, it really does.

I think our challenge is going to be two things. It's going to be how the players continue to keep their form and perform at high levels, and then how the players that aren't picked to play are still going to be supportive and still going to be behind the team because you never know when your number does get chosen. For us, we think we are going to be a deep team as we get guys fit. Andre will be coming back shortly.

Q. To follow up on that last one. How you shortly is shortly?

GREGG BERHALTER: My guess would be, where we at today? My guess would be within ten days. You know, we can potentially see him, I think so. Is that what that is? I don't know. I've been wrong in this before, so let's -- you know, right, ruling people out for the season.

Q. Curious, between last match and then all this full week of training, has anything stood out to you about how Mbokazi and Olsen complete each other as a center back pairing?

GREGG BERHALTER: I think that Mbo is Mbo. He is a unique individual, able to make amazing plays, credibly strong in duels. Great covering space behind. And with Andreas, one thing that was on our mind, and you guys pointed out a number of times, was his lack of game time in the last 10 months.

So it was important for him to get game time, as unfortunate as the red card for Jack was, it actually helped him get on the field and get fit as we move towards this latter stretch of the season. I think we are going to be in a good spot with our -- with our center back positions, as we move towards the end.

Q. You have like a United Nations in the locker room. It's important that you have a very competitive team. How has it been for you to deal with all these nationalities? This team looks very strong and very united, and it talks about the great internal competition. How has it been for you and to have that good option that you have many players to choose so you can have the 11th starter?

GREGG BERHALTER: I think it's been great. It's something that I've talked about since I've been here is building a strong roster. I finally feel like we're getting to the point where we can honestly say that. I think we've had depth in other positions before but I don't think it's been this comprehensive of depth all around the positions. It's been great. What has been the best part of it is guys have continued to push each other, work to new limits and be demanding of each other. That's where has to start. It has to start with the player group. It has to start with them and really holding each other to the standards, and they do a good job of that.

Q. Do you feel confident with this team going forward to the playoffs?

GREGG BERHALTER: You know, we're gaining confidence, that's what I would say. It's been a work-in-progress the last month, getting guys fit and on the field and performing well. What I see from this group is they are slowly gaining the confidence needed to win, and this next week coming up is going to be a big part of that.

Q. I want to talk to you, I'm curious about handling the atmosphere at a stadium like Atlanta's: Massive crowd, unique stadium dynamics. Do you prepare the team as far as the squad, managing the pressure and the noise of a stadium like that?

GREGG BERHALTER: You know, as Alex from MLS Soccer pointed out to us during the week, we have the second-highest attendance on the road this season. So we have been used to playing in front of a lot of fans, and for us, I know the players relish that. It's something they a look forward to. When we go to these stadiums and they have great atmospheres, hostile atmospheres, whatever they have, it's just an opportunity for us to pressure test ourselves.

So we see it as a positive. You know, we enjoy the big crowds, and we hope to put a good performance on in Atlanta on Saturday.

Q. How does Gomez, having a player who can play striker, midfield, out wide, how can having a player who can play so many positions raise the floor of this team in such a short period of time?

GREGG BERHALTER: He's a great addition to the group. We had high expectations of him internally. Externally, he has gone under the radar a bit; the quality from him in the games he's played in in Germany, we've seen the conditions he has to play under in Germany, which is very combative, no time, no space. A lot of duels. And we've seen his versatility in Germany, right, playing every position, basically, on the field besides center back.

So for us, it was a great opportunity to add someone like this to the roster that can do exactly that in Major League Soccer. He hasn't disappointed. He got the goal against Charlotte. But he was able to, you know, play on the field a number of different positions, and inevitably bring the energy needed to help this team when he comes in. You know, he plays at a dynamic, very good intensity running, and it's good to have him in this group.

Q. Is it helpful to be where you are at the table right now in the sense of, you've got -- I know it's ridiculous, it sounds like. But where you have teams right below you really pushing, and you have an ability to move up, as well, with some good results? Does that help over the next few weeks? Obviously there's competition, but just to make sure that it's the right attitude entering the postseason?

GREGG BERHALTER: You know, I would have liked to be higher on the team, obviously. But what I'd say is that it's good for the group, and it's good for the group that, you know, that we have to come together; that we have to continue to focus on improvement, and there's something there at the end of it, right. We want to finish in the top four, and so we have work to do. You know, we know there's some good teams behind us, good teams in front of us, and for us, we want to keep climbing as best we can.

But the most important thing is that we continue to build, we continue to improve, we continue to focus on our performance. You know, we've had some good performances in the last couple weeks that won't -- weren't always awarded with points, and we just have to continue on believing in what we're doing and staying strong.