CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

June 23, 2022

Rafael Czichos

Press Conference

Q. We don't really know the severity of Wyatt Omsberg and his situation but what has he meant from your perspective? What has he meant to this team and what kind of partner has he been to you in the center of the defense?

RAFAEL CZICHOS: Yeah, so first of all, I know as much as you know. But as a part of the defense, as my teammate next to me, he's really important for me and for the whole defense. I think he's been playing a really good season so far.

Yeah, that he's injured now, obviously is bad for us but I think we will find a good solution to replace him.

Q. What would you say was this team's best performance of the year so far and how much better can this group get this year?

RAFAEL CZICHOS: I think the best game we've played so far was a game in Toronto. We played -- we had a lot of possession. We were really aggressive. We had a lot of chances, I think the most chances in the season so far but the problem was the result.

And finally last weekend we found a way to win the game. We had a clean sheet, which is important for us as a defender and the whole defense line. I hope we can take the confidence we got back last weekend with us to Houston and to play a good game in Houston.

Q. How has the mood in training been different after finally getting some good performances and get three points on the board?

RAFAEL CZICHOS: Yeah, this week has been different so far because you can feel the confidence every player got since last weekend. It was fun. The atmosphere was good, and I think everybody is so excited for Saturday to get back on the pitch and to get the next win and especially on the road, it's really important for us to get points.

So we know it's going to be really difficult, especially because of the weather. It's going to be really hot out there. Yeah, we are trying to get prepared as best as we can to play a good game in Houston.

Q. This was your first season with the fire, first season MLS, first season in the United States. You know, how do you like living and playing in the United States. I know that's something you had wanted to do for a long time and now you're able to do it. How are you liking things here in this country?

RAFAEL CZICHOS: Yeah, honestly it was really difficult for us at the beginning, for me as a player, and for us as a family to find a home and it was really stressful, everything.

It was something like I didn't expect that difficult but right now I can tell we feel very comfortable here and for me as a player, the team is great. I can feel a lot of support, and yeah, even this season, it's been difficult for us as a team. I have a good feeling that we can, like, improve our game, improve like the whole season, and can reach our goals that we have at the end of the season.

Q. How have you found your adjustment to Major League Soccer, some of the unique challenges with long travel, different climates and things like that?

RAFAEL CZICHOS: Yeah, it's so different than the season in Germany. Like the traveling is I think most -- the biggest difference. But yeah, I think the club is really good, organized. It's really professional and they try to make it as easy as possible for us as a player, and so far, yeah, I feel good in the games and that's the most important thing. I try my best to get a good recovery after the games and to get prepared for the next game. I feel good.

Q. Just to go back to what I was talking about earlier, personally, how hard is that to adjust to a new country? Even though you're obviously fluent in English and you've got experience in the world, how difficult is it to adjust to a new country, and then also, what's the hottest weather you've played in as a soccer player, because the forecast for Saturday in Houston I think is 99.

RAFAEL CZICHOS: Yeah, to the weather, I think it's going to be the hottest weather I have played in, so it's going to be new and difficult.

But yeah, so like the move here to the States, like I said, I didn't expect it that difficult or that I like have to get used to so many new things, but at the end, we made it as a family and we as a player, and yeah, I'm proud of us and proud of my family. My son feels really comfortable here. Like I said, I feel comfortable on the team. I'm ready to play my best soccer so yeah, it was a big move for us but I think so far, we've made it.