Chicago Fire vs. Columbus Crew SC
MLS Regular Season
Toyota Park – Bridgeview, IL
Frank Yallop, Chicago Fire Head Coach and Director of Soccer
Thoughts on the match
“Obviously not good, probably the worst we’ve played, the first half. Not happy from the endeavor and the fight of the team, which I felt we had in the last five games but tonight it wasn’t, especially in the first half. The second half we had a bit of a go. We were totally out-played tonight.”
On the effort of the group
“I think with a group it wasn’t the best we could do but what I did want from the group is some fight and endeavor and some scrapping. Wasn’t there for some reason in the game and sometimes you get gigged up for the game and you talk about it and getting ready for the match. You talk about this is a very, very, very, important game for us and we didn’t come out of the game. Obviously, down on me when we don’t do that and it surprised me. It just think we lost confidence, playing against a good side and they played well tonight and I got to give them that. They pulled us apart in different areas but again like I said at half time dow 0-1, we still have time to get back in the match. It should have been 3 or 4 probably after and maybe more after the final whistle but it wasn’t, so we still had a chance to pull ourselves up and get something out of the match. But we hoofed a bit but we didn’t really look like we were going to score and they looked like they were going to score most of the attack, so it’s tough playing against good teams at full strength. They were up full strength and they were playing well.”
On the congested schedule playing a part
“Yeah, I think and you have to ask the guys, we look a little nostalgic as a group and try to have the same team out from last week game against Seattle. Maybe, I don’t know, we just thought one more game we start to lack confidence sometimes, looks like a lack of effort which didn’t know where to run or when to run and who to close down, so it look like you’re not trying. I don’t think the guys purposely didn’t try but didn’t know what to do. Especially first half and it seems very disjointed and again I’m not going to sit here and criticize the players at all because I felt, especially the last five games, they have given everything and I think I said earlier sometimes you just come out a little flat and don’t know where to run or what to do and I think that was the case first half.”
On the performance of Sean Johnson
“Very good. Sean’s looked sharp. Been at his best the last couple of games. Tonight he made some very good saves, was very alert and kept us in the game. With a chance to maybe equalize, but again I think we were outplayed tonight and Sean was key because there could have been more goals”
On preparing for Sunday
“Well, obviously we try to get guys healthy. David at least came in for a few minutes, or 20 minutes. He did ok, looked rusty but we’ve just got to pick ourselves up and get ready for the next game. The big thing for us now is we got to make sure we don’t dwell on this one, we got to move forward and get a result in Columbus now but obviously its going to be tough, but we’re capable of doing it so we got to get ready for it.”
On the frustration from the fans
“I’m frustrated as hell as well. Pisses me off when we don’t play well. Pisses me off when we don’t have the right players on the field too. You get judged on what you play like, it’s not always the true picture but you can’t say anything, it’s excuses. I’m pissed off we didn’t get our side out there. There are guys injured so it’s very frustrating. And you’re playing a team that’s good, so you got to be at your best. We had a few guys missing Saturday, and proved we can get results when it’s pretty even, but we got some guys put together tonight that couldn’t handle their play, and it’s not easy, but it’s easy to see they were better tonight and had better players on the field. We had 6 guys sitting watching.”
On facing Columbus Crew SC again on Sunday
“Well, they’re probably looking forward to Sunday. They played well and did what they wanted to do and looked sharp with their chances. Adailton should be back into our defense , but Jeff and a couple of the guys are still a ways away. We’ll be familiar with them, we’ll try and work with the guys but it is what it is we got to pick ourselves up and get ready for it. Every game’s different. If we score early then the game can change and be different. They’ve come in here and played quite well away from home. We’ve played well away from home to at least get a couple of wins, but it wasn’t to be. So we got to make sure we do it this time. Talk is cheap we got to just do it. Whether we’re depleted or not we got to find a way to do it.”
Sean Johnson, Chicago Fire Goalkeeper
On losing the match despite a good individual performance
“My performance aside, I think it's always disappointing when you don't get three points. As a team, it's another loss in the loss column. I think when we came out of the gates, we weren't prepared to deal with what they threw at us, we didn't make the necessary changes. The good thing is that we have them again on Sunday. It's a quick turnaround, we'll get back to training and correct some things going into that game. It'll be a different game come Sunday.”
On missing players
“I think we have the depth for guys to step in at any point in time. You can't blame it on any one person. I think, as a team tonight, we just weren't good enough, didn't start fast enough. The first half was definitely one to forget, or one to look back at and take away things to correct. The second half was a lot better; the guys who came on, I think they did fantastic jobs to help out and change the dynamic of the game. But we weren't able to notch one late, and ended up with the loss...I think we started off slow, and they came out and they really put their foot forward and really pinned us back, and we didn't have an answer for it in the first half. From front to back, including myself, I think we've got to look at ourselves and really correct things, because that can't happen.”
On his performance
“It's good to be back in and playing. I think the most important thing is just doing what I can to help the team win. Like I said, it's disappointing to come away with no points, especially at home. My performance doesn't mean anything if we don't get any points. I've never been one for individual glory or praise. Team-wise, we are in a tough spot, and we need to find a way to dig ourselves out.”
On morale
“You have no choice, you can't let it go south. We're in a tough spot; we still have a few games in hand, and you don't want to keep saying that because your games will run out before you know it. We have to come out Sunday with a different attitude, and a different mentality. Like I said, it'll definitely be a different game come Sunday.”
On a rivalry with Columbus
“They're a good team, and any good team, you have to be willing to match them physically, mentally, and emotionally. Tonight, we didn't do that. When you give a team like that space and time like we did, they'll pick you apart. They're a good passing team, and respect them for playing a good game. We've got to do a better job of doing the things necessary to come away with points.”
