CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

April 9, 2022

Gabriel Slonina

Press Conference

Orlando City 1, Chicago Fire FC 0

Q. You had to lose a game at some point, but how frustrating was it that it came like that?

GABRIEL SLONINA: Yeah, it's disappointing. It's always tough to take a loss, even if it's on the road. But you know, I have to give it up to the guys. I think we fought well. We stayed in our shape, stayed compact, and obviously it's tough to take a loss but it's about bouncing back now and about recovering and focusing on the next game.

Q. I think that was the first game you guys have trailed this season was actually that goal. What's behind your strong defensive showing all year?

GABRIEL SLONINA: I think it's just been the way we've trained. I think Ezra and the coaching staff have done a great job of making sure we are defensively organized and compact and everything. I think, yeah, I think our defensive structure has been really good and the mentality that we go into with every game, we want to keep that streak going and we want to concede as little as possible.

Q. On the goal that they scored, what did you see perfect your advantage point? Seemed like they moved the ball pretty well and it was a pretty goal on their part but was there anything you guys could have been better?

GABRIEL SLONINA: Yeah, thanks for the question but I think from my perspective, I think I have to do a little bit of a better job at reading that header coming across. It's obviously a set piece goal, so a lot of times it comes down to focusing that little bit of time. If you switch off for one second, teams will probably shot. So I think from my perspective, I think I have to do a little better job of anticipating that header coming back across. I think I just switched off for about a half-second and I think that costed us.

Q. Given the circumstances surrounding the defeat, entering the match with several key players injured and losing a player in the first half due to a red card, what was the message in the locker room post-game for the group?

GABRIEL SLONINA: I think Ezra was proud of the shift he put in. Obviously it was pretty difficult going down a man but I think guys stepped in and played their roles. I think on a different day, it comes out as a different result. But Ezra is proud of us and he wants us to keep our heads up, focus on the next game and make sure we do everything we can to recover and train and be ready for the next game.