CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

March 16, 2022

Boris Sekulic

Press Conference

Q. Boris, seems like the defense this season has been stronger and harder to score on than the defense last season. What are the keys to that and how much of a role has Ezra played in that?

BORIS SEKULIC: For sure, big role. I think that's really important for us. We have some new players. We have also new captain. We have Rafa here, but also I think it's not just back four.

Like today, in today's football, like all 11 players have to be defend and attack. I think in general as a team, we defend really good, at least in those three games and in present games, so I hope -- I hope we will continue this but it's most important to get three points. This is a really good game but I think we don't want to talk too much about it. We have to be more concentrated on the pitch.

Q. Piggybacking off that last question, he alluded to the success that the defense has had and as a team not giving up any goals. I'm wondering the effect that C.J. Brown has had, being a legendary defender for the Fire himself, what impact has he had specifically from the defensive point of view this season?

BORIS SEKULIC: Yeah, this I forgot to say in the last question. C.J. is working a lot with us, with back four, and individually with every defensive player. He's someone who played this league and who has lots of experience. So I really like talking with him and taking some advices.

He's showing us videos, he's outside talking to back four mostly, and also I think he has big impact on playing of back four.

Q. With the changes to the roast roster, and you Miguel have remained constant. Wondering what your thoughts are on Miguel as a player and what you two as a fullback pairing bring to the defensive unit and the team as a whole?

BORIS SEKULIC: Miguel is, first of all, great guy. First year, he didn't know English. Now he can talk much, much better, and me personally, I have like really good relationship with him, like we joke a lot in some Spanish jokes and some in English. I think also he has improved a lot since coming here. He's a very dynamic player. He can run a lot. He's trying to help the team offensively, also, and I think he's doing good. As I said, I think he has improved a lot since he came here or he is young and he can still improve and I hope he will continue improving and he already became like great MLS player. So I think he can also help more.

Q. What is it like playing alongside Wyatt?

BORIS SEKULIC: Yeah, it's not so new for me because we played a few games last season. But I can say when I came here in 2020, I remember like first week, after first two or three trainings, really, I was impressed by him. He's tall. He's not slow for central defender. He's not bad with the ball. So I was expecting that he will play but after I saw first season, when I arrived, didn't play so much. Then last season, I think he was not bad -- he got a chance but he was not bad.

This is a process with defensive players. They need like time and they need games to come to some level. So now he got his chance, and I think he's playing really, really good. He understands good way to travel which is important, and he in general with the team, we defended really good those three games, so I'm happy for Wyatt. He is also great, great guy, and he's like really big professional; this, I can say. He's training a lot, normal training or in gym, so I'm happy for him. I think he deserve this.

Q. What's the difference between the first home game and this Saturday? I know you're prepared mentally also to be undefeated and winning your last game. How is the atmosphere and what is the difference for the team this Saturday?

BORIS SEKULIC: Well, atmosphere is always good when you -- when you win previous game. But after we had like one day off, but since Tuesday, we are already preparing for Kansas City. I played like three, four times against Kansas City, and really, they are tough team to play against. Like for me, they were like personally Top 3 teams in MLS that I play against. Coaches in this league, many, many years, so he knows them very good, so we are trying to prepare for them.

We are playing home game. Last home game we play 0-0. This game, I hope we also have lots of fans like first game against Orlando and I hope this team we will win.

Q. I heard that there's a chance you could be called up by Slovakia next week. What would that mean to you if you do get the call to go back and play for your country?

BORIS SEKULIC: That's a great thing. So yeah, have two friendly games this month and so we will see. Today I will probably know. Today there will be like list. Every time since I came here, I was on this preliminary list, but never made to the short list. So hopefully this time, I will be there, and of course, it's a really great thing for me and my career.