CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

July 1, 2023

Frank Klopas

Press Conference

Orlando City 3, Chicago Fire FC 1

Q. Ultimately disappointing result but coming off two road wins in the previous two games, how do you ensure this loss doesn't halt the momentum going into three big weeks of games at Soldier Field?

FRANK KLOPAS: It's always about the next game. We had good momentum in but I think we have to keep grounded. This league is really difficult and momentum can change pretty quick so we came on the road, and I thought in the game, it was just small details, the little things that really had changed momentum in the game.

We were down 2-0, I think it's just certain mistakes that we made, and also discipline a little bit. But then we made -- I thought the changes made, came in gave good energy to the team. We got the goal back and again, we get caught in a 2v2 and give up the third goal.

I do believe, for me, the header goal from Kei was a goal. It was past the line. I don't know what angle they looked at but it's just incredible that in our league we don't have goal line technology to really look at that. But it is what it is.

I think we just have to regroup now, obviously look at this game and correct some things and get ready, because we have a good home stand now with the next three games, and one game at a time, and this is a moment where we need to get points at home and not drop any points at home.

Q. I just want to ask you, is there any player that is injured after this rough game, during the game or after?

FRANK KLOPAS: Yeah, I think the big absence for us was Federico Navarro. Today he got an injury in training, which is extremely disappointing for us because he's really been in top form and he was a key guy for us, and obviously that's a big loss.

He's going to be out for a while. And then with the players tonight, obviously you're right, it was a physical match. Coming off the field, I feel that everyone seemed okay to me just visually but you know, I mean, I just have to wait and talk with the trainers and see if there's any knocks and bruises that I didn't -- I didn't see in the game.

But I think that just with the guys that walked off, they seemed to be okay but the big loss for us was during the week in training with Federico Navarro. That's going to be a big loss moving forward, and hopefully we can get him back quick.

Q. What needs to be done to minimize chances for opponents going forward? Orlando had a high volume of chances that exceeded Chicago's.

FRANK KLOPAS: I think transition moments, I think when you fall behind, you have a tendency to push the game and put more numbers forward to try to get back in the game.

To find the right balance, when we got the goal, I think that there was really a good energy, but then we threw way too many numbers forward and we got caught. And then, I mean, obviously, when -- look, when you -- we got the second yellow and you're playing a man down, it was late in the game, and we gave a lot of possession away and we gave up a lot of opportunities because we were stretched. It's just normal with one man down. But I just think just being disciplined throughout the game, and I think there were moments where we lost it a little bit tonight, and more than anything, it's just that.

Q. You mentioned Fede got injured in training. How do you think you can replace his contributions, and do you have any update when Doumbia will be arriving?

FRANK KLOPAS: Hopefully soon. I think that we tried some things tonight obviously with Mauri coming in the middle, but that throws rhythm of the team off a little bit because Mauri has been playing extremely well in the back. There was a couple ways we could have went but being on the road, I wanted to be a little more conservative. Mauri has played in that position before.

But then obviously, I think that with Doumbia coming in, I really don't know the date, I think it's just working on his visa and stuff like that. But I feel that we have players on the team, whether it's Mauri, whether it's Fabi, he can come in, depending how we want to play, maybe at home we are a little bit more attack-minded with players that we have.

But it's not an easy player to replace. Fede was in top form and he just does so many little things for the team, and he runs just so much for everyone else. So it's not going to be easy to replace but everyone else just has to step up.

Q. What's the difference between the first half and the second half, the tactics you personally used?

FRANK KLOPAS: Yeah, I think there were certain players that were coming back. We had to be careful. There were limited minutes for them to play, and I think one of them was Miguel Navarro, and obviously with Maren Selassie, we are bringing them slowly and integrating them within the team.

I think in the first half, we lacked a little bit of just runs behind, especially when we had time on the ball, you know, we needed more guys that can stretch the back line and be more dangerous, and then obviously Miguel does bring that even from a left back position. And then Maren Selassie with his pace.

They came in and we had a big push with them coming back, you saw the impact, we had opportunities, big opportunity with Shaq that hit it over the bar, I think that was a goal for him to put away and then Guti, again, had a really fantastic night playing. He created the PK which got us back into the game.

And then the discipline a little bit with the numbers that we pushed forward, we got caught in a transition moment and we gave up the third goal and became more difficult with the second yellow obviously with Souquet.