CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

August 27, 2023

Frank Klopas

Press Conference

LA Galaxy 3, Chicago Fire FC 0

Q. Obviously not the performance you want to see, I'm curious how you --

FRANK KLOPAS: Performance had nothing to do with it. Performance we came out really good. If you really saw the game, performance we came out really good.

The game, we should have been up at least two goals in the first ten minutes. We came out really good. We pressed them really well. We created the opportunities. Should have been a penalty on Guti, 100 percent in my book; it's not given.

And then obviously then we make -- we get a second yellow that changes a lot in the game, you know, and we give up the goal. I think the effort was great. We continue -- yes, we're defending, you're in a really big pitch with a man down, and then we have to pick our moments to stay compact and be organized.

We came in at halftime, and I think even in moments in the first half, after being a man down we got into some good spots. And the chances were there, and we talked about not giving the second goal, and you know unfortunately, the guys tried. Maybe throughout the game, there were some fatigued legs. We made some mistakes, and then after that, I'm thinking about Wednesday.

But the opportunities were there for us. We came really prepared, good mentality from the guys. There's little details, and obviously not getting the calls to go our way really changes momentums in games. You're 1-0 up or 2-0, it really changes, and unfortunately it didn't go our way.

But I think the mentality, the attitude from the guys was excellent.

Q. And that mentality, the attitude from the guys, is that something you're feeling in the locker room? Are you feeling the right type of emotions from the guys in response to that performance?

FRANK KLOPAS: I'm feeling, you know, when you lose a game, I'm always a harsh critic. I look at the game. I just felt like the way we came out, the way we started the game and stuff, we definitely came out with a really good mentality, a really good game plan, the execution was good. It was just about not putting chances away.

And then when certain things, sometimes that don't go our way, whether it's calls or this or that, there's frustration, because at the end of the day we need some of those to go our way. We need -- it's just fair. And there's always an interpretation, but it can't be a different interpretation every time of what the call is.

Q. And the decision to go with Fabi and Herbers in the starting lineup over maybe Omari today. The two of them have been interchangable at the position in a lot of ways, curious why that decision tonight?

FRANK KLOPAS: Yeah, I wanted more runs behind. Fabi has looked really good in training. He's been sharp.

And it's been all about the team. The starting spot is not guaranteed to anyone. You have to earn that the way you play and the way you train. That's very clear from day one.