CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CONFERENCE

March 31, 2024

MAREN HAILE-SELASSIE

Press Conference

Atlanta United 3, Chicago Fire 0

Q. How are you feeling after this? Because it feels like one of those games where you had some chances that I assume you would like to do better with.

MAREN HAILE-SELASSIE: Yeah, I mean, it's a very tough one. I feel like the coaching staff prepared us really good for this game and especially the first two goals that we conceded were exactly the way that we were talking about; that we didn't want to concede goals that way, like between the center backs and the second post crosses.

So yeah, it's a tough one. We had also some good moments. When we respected the structure, we came in good spots. It's just about finding the ball now. But then it's a very tough one today.

Q. I just want to know, another difficult game for the team, playing one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference. What lessons can you learn from the way that this game panned out going forward?

MAREN HAILE-SELASSIE: Like you said, they are one of the better teams. But I think that we are here to compete and for the most part, we did good. I feel like that they didn't have like huge chances except the goals that they scored.

Yeah, it's about respecting the structure and just staying with the mind focused so we don't give up like crazy or stupid red cards and crosses like that, but we conceded goals. Yeah, I can say we can learn a lot from this game.

Q. You know I've always got to ask you, when you start on the left side, how are you feeling in that natural left winger position?

MAREN HAILE-SELASSIE: I felt pretty good. Especially today we wanted to end up with three guys behind, so I was more like in the pockets, not really outside. I feel like I found some good spaces and we had some good combinations. Like I said, now it's not as fine a finish, but yeah.

Q. Going on the road, two games in a row, both on turf, how much of a difference-maker is it going to be to go back home to the familiar surroundings at Soldier Field?

MAREN HAILE-SELASSIE: To be honest, we're looking forward to play home again because playing away, it's never easy, even though the two turfs that we just played are pretty good quality. It wasn't like a huge adaptation that we had to do. But obviously you prefer to play on normal grass and especially at home, now the next couple games we have some home games. It's going to be huge games for us.