CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 20, 2023

Frank Klopas

Press Conference

Columbus 3, Chicago Fire FC 0

Q. How did that kind of unravel tonight? What did you see from the side tonight in that performance?

FRANK KLOPAS: Well, I mean, two PKs don't help, and especially the one in four minutes into the game. I thought there were moments where we looked good and we gave up another PK, and then it becomes really difficult, and then just on the run of play, just inability to really just mark better in open space, and then pretty quickly, I think it's 3-0. The red card didn't help, the injuries.

Obviously the one thing that's in my mind and thinking about right now, because this game is behind, I think our main focus is Saturday, and besides the loss, obviously the loss of the players that got injured, it becomes extremely difficult for us right now because we are losing some key guys in really crucial moments.

And obviously I know with the yellow, he's going to miss the game on Saturday. He was one away from the suspension, and then the second yellow to Shaqiri, that becomes really difficult now with also with Mauri going down, and Rafa. We have to regroup. We are very short but I think it's important that Saturday, we put this game behind us.

But the difficult one for me is those key players that we are going to miss. That's the only thing that's on my mind. But we have to come back and really find a way to come out on Saturday and get the three points, because it's almost a must-win right now.

Q. It's now eight games without a win in all competitions, five and a half games without a goal. You still have five games to go. How to you get the team motivated when things seem as hopeless as they do now?

FRANK KLOPAS: It's always about the next game, just like in the game, when the most important play in the game is always the next one. And that's been the message all along. I mean, we knew this was going to be a difficult match, but you know, obviously the way it turned out, it really hurts even more.

So it's a short turnaround, and you're right, we try some different things. I'm still, you know -- you make certain decisions, and now you know, because you know Mauri went down a little bit in the Montréal game. He felt he was good to go, and now that kills us, really hurts the team that he's going to miss.

And obviously I was very cautious with Guti, and that's why I really didn't use him because obviously he felt good but he's always talking to the performance team that, you know, he takes a little bit longer to recover, so I didn't want to risk anything with that, especially the way the result was going in the first half.

But the team fought all the way in the end, even short-handed, not conceding the second half, was very important, so we got to take that positive away, and again, you know, I know we didn't create much today, it became difficult, but we did have chances. I don't know, it's always about the next play, and I think the mentality has to be that, you know, the ball is going to go in the back of the net in one of these opportunities. It just seems like nothing is going our way right now. We've just got to stay positive and put this one behind us as quickly as we can.

It's good we are playing again on Saturday, and now it's just about recovery and seeing how, if there's any hope, I think Mauri, it's no for him but we'll have so evaluate Rafa how he feels day-to-day.

Q. One of the silver linings is we got to see Wyatt Omsberg come in in the first half. Is he in contention for this weekend, given the rest of the team's availability?

FRANK KLOPAS: Yeah, difficult. I think myself and the way -- I think it's one position in the back that I think it's very important to have continuity with the players. That's why I wanted to -- I mean, if we are playing three games in a week, I think that's one spot, the centre-backs, it's an area I don't want to change because it's -- that understanding in key moments becomes very important, so I don't want to change that.

Wyatt is a guy that he gives everything. You know what you're going to get from him. He always trains really well. He's a guy that you have listens and follows instructions really well. I think he's been training really well. That's why when Mauri went down, he was my first option to bring in and we might have to play him and Carlos, depending how Rafa is. The way he came out -- I don't want to rule him out yet but I think both players have to be ready.

I think with Wyatt, you know what you're going to get every time he steps on the field. He's an intelligent player, and you know, I think that when I need him, I put him in and I know he can get the job done.