CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

March 23, 2024

Hugo Cuypers

Press Conference

New England 1, Chicago Fire FC 1

Q. I want to know your initial thoughts, not just on the game and the outcome but on the conditions overall playing on turf and a big road game in the U.S. and a stadium like that.

HUGO CUYPERS: I mean, I had heard a lot about the turf but I'll say it was good. It was one of the best turf fields I've played on. Nothing to complain about on that area.

Q. Couple goals, couple games. How are you feeling and seeing this team grind out a result in a tough environment, seeing you guys pull it off, how are you feeling today?

HUGO CUYPERS: I think I speak for the whole team when I say that we are disappointed because we definitely felt that the three points were possible today. We didn't play well enough in the second half. I'm going to say we went back a little too much and didn't manage the crucial moments of the game well enough to get a win. A point is a point on the road, but still, we've got to get a result when we can.

Q. So the team was out Shaqiri today. He's been the main play maker for the last two years. How do you think that changed things in the attack for you?

HUGO CUYPERS: It does, but I mean, I try to adapt with whoever I'm playing, whatever system we are playing in, and then it's up to me to adapt to the qualities of my teammate that I'm playing with. We knew when we are away, that the Czech would not be available for this game, and I think we managed well by moments in the first half and finding the free man in midfield and going forward from there. But we didn't succeed in that in the second half, and that's too bad.

Q. As a follow-up, do you have any thoughts on MLS playing through the international break, meaning that Xherdan and Brady couldn't play in this game today?

HUGO CUYPERS: I think it's strange coming from Europe where it isn't the case, but I mean, in Europe, everybody is complaining that the holidays are too short and here they are long enough. But you have to miss some key players for international games. So I mean, it's a balance to find, and every league has its own rules.