QUOTE SHEET
Chicago Fire FC 2:2 New York Red Bulls
Match Recap
Chicago Fire FC Head Coach Raphael Wicky
On dropping two points late…
"Last weekend, we equalized minute 94, I think, so we won a point. This weekend, we get equalized in minute 93 and of course, we lose two points. Especially in a game, I think, which we had a good performance, a very good performance against a very aggressive and not easy to play against team. We came back, great reaction from the team of coming back, turning the game around, then actually not giving up much, having a few chances again to maybe put the 3-1 and kill the game. And then look, yeah, that's football, right? That's the beauty of the game, you can't always predict. I think it feels like we lost two points but in the end of the day, we take it. I'm proud of the performance of the guys, of coming back and fighting so hard, and really being in all of those challenges and second balls, and still trying to play football and creating chances, so I'm proud of that. Obviously, the result today hurts a little bit, but there's a lot of positives which we're going to take out of the game."
On the significance of dropping points at home…
"You have to win your home games, which is very important. But football doesn't always work like that. I mean, I said it from the beginning, and I know that if you want to achieve something, you also have to be able to win games and go and get points on the road. So obviously now, that puts a little bit more pressure on us right now. But for me, it was clear that if you want to go to the playoffs and go further, at one point you have to win games away. So we're going to go into these three games with the mentality that we want to go there to win games. We always went like that and we had good games on the road, the result didn’t follow, and we're going to go with the same mentality and the belief that we can do that, into these next three games."
On the margins being very thin in this league…
"Yes, first of all, I think that's the league. I'm mostly new in the league but I followed the league a lot. I think that's what makes this league very interesting, very special, that it's actually very even and not like in other big leagues in the world, always the same teams are making the title and winning and they're playing for Champions League spots or Europa League spots. This league is not like that so I think it’s, a little bit, the league. In regards to us, yes, I think, for me as a first-year head coach with a new team, we had a lot of changes in (the) winter, we basically started twice from zero, in January, February and then after the lockdown with the three months break, where we had finally these five, six pieces here to integrate. We started again, basically fresh in a very difficult stoppage, no friendly games and it was difficult. With all of that, I think I take it positive because we see that we are very close, that we are a good team, that we can beat, and I said that from the beginning, we can beat any team. I believe in that. But if you're not 100 percent and if you're maybe relaxing a little bit, then you can lose almost against every team here and that makes it interesting. But I see it as a positive because I really see progress in this team, I believe in this team and I see progress in the last two and a half months, three months, from this team and going forward, if we can finish this season the way we want. I really see positive for the next year as well.”
On the parity of the league encouraging the team…
"Yes, that's basically how it is and I really believe that. And I said it from the beginning and it shows, the whole league shows it again this season, I think anyone can beat anyone here, which is very, very unique. I think that doesn't happen in that amount of repetitions like it happens in this league, it doesn't happen in other big leagues. So, yeah, we know that we can go away from home and we know that we can win games. We know that we have a good team and we can beat these teams. We haven't showed it this year, but we have showed moments and we have games where we shouldn't have lost away, and now it's up to us to step up and go away from home and get a result. And again, for the future, I'm very positive that we can become a strong team and a strong franchise."
Chicago Fire FC Midfielder Álvaro Medrán
On if tonight’s result is a point gained or two points lost…
“With the way that we fought, especially in the second half to flip things around and get back on track. The way we fought, especially during such an ugly game. The opponent played kind of an ugly game and we couldn't really play our game. The way we fought, the way we played, it was two points lost.”
On how conceding a late goal hurt considering the tough upcoming schedule…
“It hurts a lot. Especially with such a difficult game to have to come back to go from being down one, and then going 1-1, and being up 2-1, and getting that goal against us pretty late. It really does hurt. But now we have to look forward. We can't do anything else but look ahead and go for the next one.”
On what he thinks it will take for the team to get results and hang on to their playoff spot on the road…
“We have to do more than what we have done up until now when we play on the road. We are one of the last teams that hasn't won games on the road. So we know that we have to change that. We have to look at what we're doing. And we have to win. Each one of us has to look at ourselves and do a little bit more, so that we can do better when we're on the road and get those points.”
On how he feels about still being in a good position to be in the playoff race…
“Yeah, we see that everything is still open. There are a lot of teams that are close to getting that playoff spot there at the end, and it's going to be hard. We have to look inside ourselves and everyone has to give more of themselves in the games coming up on the road so that we can reach our goal of making the playoffs. Our team goal. Because we all work together as a team and that's the goal that we had, so we have to work harder and do better on the road and work hard so that we can reach the playoffs. We know that the end of the season is coming up and after that we can look beyond.”
Chicago Fire FC Goalkeeper Bobby Shuttlesworth
On the group’s mood following tonight’s result…
“Disappointed. I mean no getting around it. You're up 2-1, a few minutes left and you give away a goal like that. A bit unlucky, it hits Mauricio on the back, pops straight up, I make a good save and then scramble the area and it's disappointing. I think we played well tonight. I think we disrupted what they wanted to do, and a couple of our chances were a bit unlucky. But again also, loads of stuff we can do better and we need to do better.”
On moving past tonight’s result quickly with another game coming up on Wednesday…
“Well I think you just said it. I think the good part about a disappointing result like this is that we're right back at it. We have training tomorrow and a game Wednesday. So we have another chance Wednesday to make it right, and get three points and try to get into the playoffs. And I mean, that's what we're focused on doing is quick turnaround, taking care of our bodies, the people that need to take care of our bodies and getting ready for Wednesday.”
On if he feels the team is close to breaking through and if they can make something happen if they make the playoffs…
“Yeah, I mean, I think I've played a long time in this league and I think it's all, as you know, it's all about getting in the playoffs. Once you're in the playoffs, anything can happen. I think in this league any team can beat anyone so, like you said, we're sitting where we are and there's no getting around it but it's not as if we're getting blown out in every game. We're in every single game and the mood in the dressing room reflects that. We feel we’re close and I feel like we have had some unfortunate bounces for some goals, deflections, I feel like this season there's been, I can't even count how many deflections that end up in really good chances for them. And you know that being said, there are obviously a lot of things that we can do better and we're still learning each other. It's a new group but I think we feel positive and we feel like if we can get on a little run here that we can beat any team in the league.”
On if there’s any pressure heading into these final four matches…
“I don’t think there's added pressure. I mean, we're trying to get into the playoffs. The pressure is every game, trying to get three points and move up the ladder. I think for us we're, you know, I think we know that we haven't won a game on the road this year. I think that being said, we've had some very good performances on the road and maybe have been a bit unlucky or have not taken our chances or whatever it might be. I think we have three games left on the road and we know where we are and what we have to do and we're approaching it game by game. We're not looking past Wednesday. We're focused on Wednesday's game, trying to get three points and trying to move up the table in order to get above the red line.”
