CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

July 24, 2021

Jonathan Bornstein

Press Conference

Toronto FC 2, Chicago Fire 1

Q. I asked the same question of Frank, I think it was 31 shots generated, 14 on target and you created a ton of chances, and yet you walk away with the 2-1 loss, how does that feel?

JONATHAN BORNSTEIN: You have to always look at the positive, right. We created a lot of chances. We played well. We had a majority of the game in their half. You know, always got to also work on the things that you don't do right, so can't be losing a game where we do get 31 shots, so try and build on that always. Obviously team has given it all, and you can see that we're right there. Just a little bit to go so we can win.

Their goalie, you also have to give him credit. He had a great game. That's soccer, football, and we have to keep pushing. We're on a good path in the last six games, 2-2-2. Should be better but we've got to turn this thing around, as well. But yeah, 31 shots, it's really good to see; only one goal, not so good to see with only 31 shots but it will get there.

Q. What were your thoughts about the defense? You weren't really tested tonight but what did you see back there?

JONATHAN BORNSTEIN: Yeah, I mean, obviously we had our -- they had their chances as well. First half I think we came out, you know, we gave them that goal. You know, defensively I thought in a game where we're controlling the ball a lot and the majority of the time we have possession of the ball in their side of the half, creating those chances, the defense has to be ready to step and when the ball comes out we have to win it back. I think we can do a little better on that just being more aware in the counter press, and counter -- sorry, the counter prevention.

I thought overall, we've got to be better on those goals. That position, got to watch it again, but I think in general terms we have to be tuned in everyone, to all the defense. It takes a whole team to win and so everyone's got to be doing their job.

It is disheartening to receive a goal so early, I think second minute of the game, any time you concede a goal that early, their team especially is going to drop off a little bit but I was really proud of the way that our guys responded immediately.

We didn't put our heads down and keep fighting and created a lot of opportunities and it was indicative in that 31 shots, constantly on top of them. I thought -- I was proud of the way we fought and didn't give up. That's a positive team of our team this year is don't ever give up. Never easy to go down so early but got to fix those type of things.

Q. You say you guys are right there, after another disappointing defeat like this, what's the morale like in the locker room?

JONATHAN BORNSTEIN: Obviously it's going to be disheartening and disappointed in the result, but you know, I think that guys have a lot to be proud of, as well. I think if you take -- if you compare it to other games in the past where there's not as much energy, not as much intensity, not as much hard, you can really tell all the guys are giving it their all, you can't ask much more from a team than that, any team, and I think the more opportunities we play, the way we played tonight we're going to give ourselves a better chance to win.

The morale should be, you know, kind of like where you take a look at performance, you analyze what the game was about, take the positives and you keep working. You keep going forward. I think there were a lot of positive moments and obviously things to work on, as well. But I don't think that the morale should be very low. I think we've just got to keep moving forward and take advantage of the games that are in front of us.