CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

May 18, 2022

Chris Mueller

Press Conference

New York Red Bulls 3, Chicago Fire FC 3

Q. What's the mood around the team after a performance that had a lot of encouraging moments but also some discouraging ones, too? Was it a positive vibe in negative vibe? Somewhere in between? What's the feeling of the team at the moment?

CHRIS MUELLER: I'd say it's more negative than anything else just because of the fact of the result. Like you said, we played really well and positively, we fought back multiple times got ahead on the road, created multiple chances, dominated most of the game for the better part of it, at least.

And you know, it's a tie that feels like a loss at the end of the day, especially where you lose it in the last minute like that, you score, and to just let up that last goal really hurts.

Yeah, we've just got to learn from it and move forward. There's nothing we can do. But definitely I would say that we are all feeling a bit down just because we know we had those three points right there, so it stinks.

Q. Result aside, how did it feel to score your first goal with the Fire and be a part of an attack that was actually pretty solid tonight?

CHRIS MUELLER: It felt great. Obviously you want to contribute as an attacking player to helping the team, and I think it came in a good moment where obviously we went down 1-0 early on sort of a soft penalty call, and I think that the goal just helped the team bounce back and regain some belief going into the rest of the game. I think that we controlled most of it and didn't really let a lot faze us.

Obviously it feels great to score. It's the best part of the game but ultimately, too, you want to win because this is a team game and it just sucks that we weren't able to cap it off with three points.

Q. On that goal, you linked up with Brian Gutiérrez who got another assist. What are your thoughts on his performance and what he brings to this team as someone you can combine with on the attack?

CHRIS MUELLER: I think Brian is a really good, talented young player who obviously has a lot of potential and you know, not really a cap on what he can do. You saw it on the goal, he's really intelligent on the ball, and the weight of his pass, I didn't need to take a touch on the box. He just kind of laid it in the space for me, and obviously had the awareness to just take one touch and play me in.

So I think that other than that, as well, he had a positive game and drew a lot of good fouls in dangerous areas. He was good on the dribble, had some good touches, found me a couple times as well on the big switch. Yeah, I think that he's promising and obviously has a massive future ahead of him for how young he is and how many games he's getting. I just hope he can continue to build on that.

Q. You've only been here I think a couple weeks now; I think May 5th is when you signed. What have your impressions been of Gabriel Slonina that makes you think that he can get through what has been a very difficult two-game stretch for him?

CHRIS MUELLER: As a young player, I don't think you can look back at times where anybody was a young player where they didn't make mistakes.

Obviously being a goalkeeper, sometimes those are highlighted but I mean, being his age and stepping in and playing such a difficult role as goalkeeper where if you do make a mistake, it's right center stage under the spotlight.

But he's a confident kid. He has a good head on his shoulders and he's got people around him who will continue to encourage him and put their confidence in him.

Obviously it's a difficult challenge for him as it is for the team but I have a feeling he'll bounce back just knowing his character.