CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

August 25, 2021

Fabian Herbers

Press Conference

Q. What's the mindset of the team right now, knowing that you still have four more road games considering the results you've had away from home this season?

FABIAN HERBERS: Yeah, after the Florida trip. You're on the road for five days, which is not only straining mentally but also physically, obviously with the two games there. And then yeah, it's frustrating not to get at least one result there. I thought we deserved more in those two games.

I thought we played pretty well, especially in Orlando. I thought we had the majority of the possession and even more shots than them at home.

You know, again, it's not good enough to not come home with the results but at the same time, I thought we had decent spells and we were compact defensively and didn't concede too much I thought.

So looking forward to that. I think I still do think that we had good performances on the road and that we can build off of that, and then, yeah, going in with a positive mindset to the Red Bulls and try to get a result.

Q. What are you expecting from the Red Bulls match this weekend?

FABIAN HERBERS: Yeah, the Red Bulls are always a team that like to be in challenges, like to win the second balls. Hit a lot of long balls, as well. Try to get behind you. So we have to be aware of that. We have to be aware of their runs behind the lines.

So therefore, yeah -- but at the same time we want to be good in possession and dominate the game and take chances ourselves.

Q. This is still a month away but what is your reaction to turning to SeatGeek Stadium for one match end of September?

FABIAN HERBERS: Yeah, I just saw that yesterday. I think more or less indifferent I think personally. I've played some games here, so I've always liked -- it's a soccer-specific stadium. It's nice to play there. We just see it as any other game I would say. I don't think it's good or bad in a sense.

Yeah, we just go there, prepare, but again, it's still a month from now. More or less indifferent, personally.

Q. To piggyback on that question, do the players notice a difference when they play in a smaller, more compact soccer-specific stadium, as opposed to a big NFL stadium like Soldier Field?

FABIAN HERBERS: Ironically, the field at Soldier Field is a little bit smaller than the soccer-specific stadiums around the league and like at SeatGeek as well. I feel like it plays to our advantage at Soldier Field. The field is a bit more compact because we like to press high and not give the opponent too much time with the ball.

Maybe it gives us a slight advantage at home where we know what Soldier Field is about, and therefore, you know, press the opposing teams in and maybe turn a couple balls over early and get some early goals. We've done that a couple times this season. Last season we have done it a lot of times, and in a more soccer-specific stadium, obviously the field is a little bit bigger and spaces are wider. It's not as easy to press, but at the same time you have more time and space with the ball and also to run into spaces and behind the lines in the front. So those are kind of the things that I observe from those pitches.

Q. In terms of the size of the stadium, with SeatGeek has like the very small upper deck and one bowl, and Soldier Field has three decks, it's a huge, imposing facility when you're looking at it from ground level. Does that make any difference, just the size of the structure?

FABIAN HERBERS: Definitely, yeah, the sizes are different of the stadium but I feel like as a player once you're in the game and you're on the field you are really just trying to play the game and not really focus how big the stadium is. Obviously if you have a lot of fans or something, that can make a difference.

But I think just by the size of the stadium, it's nicer always to play in a bigger stadium than on a training field where there's nobody or if it's just a small stadium.

But I think just for me, once you're on field, you're playing the game. You're not like impressed by the stadium any more. You're just trying to focus on the game and try to get a result.

Q. You mentioned obviously different soccer-specific stadiums versus Soldier Field pitch. This is your second season now in Soldier Field. Does last season, once the Bears season started, does having that year experience, how does that prepare you for this year now heading into the Bears season, because the Bears will be starting up with their regular season in a couple weeks? I don't think we have?

FABIAN HERBERS: I don't think we have too many games at home anymore, right. The majority of the games are on the road, I think ten on the road and four more at home.

I think the Soldier Field crew is doing a good job making the field as good as possible. Obviously it's a little bit more bumpy when the Bears play maybe the weekend or the week off before us.

But we have to deal with that. We are always dealing with difficult conditions, no matter where you go, and I think it's not that bad. So obviously the lines are on the field and you see everything that's going on; that the Bears had a game. Again, the crew is doing a good job and I think the field is very playable.