Chicago Fire FC earned a point at home against D.C. United in a 0-0 draw at Soldier Field on Saturday night. Following the match, Head Coach Ezra Hendrickson and midfielders Chris Mueller and Brian Gutiérrez spoke to the media to assess the performance. Read their quotes in full below:
Chicago Fire FC Quotes
Chicago Fire FC Head Coach Ezra Hendrickson
On reconciling the balance between attack and defense...
"Well, sometimes, it depends on the opponent that you're playing and how they're playing, also. They had a really good game plan; they came in and they were just kicking long. That's not how we like to play. We did what we had to to keep them off the board but it's difficult, you know, when it's so many long balls, so many balls over the top, to get into the flow of our game, where we could be cleaner offensively. So, it's part because of how they play. They came in with a plan and they stuck to it and it made it difficult for us to get on the ball and play the way we want to play.
The thing with this game is that, you know, we want to win our home games, but this is not like the Cincy game. This is a game where you have to roll up and fight and adjust to the way they play. I thought the guys did quite well and put ourselves in a really, really good position to steal at the end. Kei's gonna hit that header nine out of 10 times, you know? But the thing is, he put himself in position to be on the end of that cross and he put it on frame. (The) keeper came up with a good save. I think it was more of the ball hitting the keeper than him saving it, but at the end of the day, we stuck to what we wanted to do and we just didn't get the goals tonight.
The thing is, we did not lose this game tonight, and it's not a game where we were leading and then gave up goals. So overall, the attitude is better but we just have to pick up full points at home. We have two coming up at home before we go on the road again and it's one game at a time. Minnesota is going to be on a high because they knocked off St. Louis tonight, so it's gonna be another battle and we just have to be prepared."
On Jonathan Dean's start and Alonso Aceves remaining on the bench...
"So first, the Dean situation is a little bit of both. I thought Dean played very well last week, but that compounded with Miguel (Navarro) traveling – playing two games in the past week – we didn't really want to risk him and put him back out there. But because Dean played so well last week, we weren't hesitant to start him again this week, and I thought he did well again tonight.
With Alonso, it's the second half, we're at home, he's a defensive player, he's a defender. I didn't really see the need to put him in the game because we weren't trying to tie, we weren't trying to hold on to a lead or anything. We were trying to go for the win, so that's why he didn't feature tonight. Had we gotten the goal and we needed to go into more of a defensive shape, then he would've played tonight. But tactically, there was no need for a defender on the pitch tonight. We wanted to go for the win."
On Brian Gutiérrez's performance...
"No, not really. I mean, even at the end there, he put the ball across to Kei. For a midfielder, or a guy who wants to be on the ball, when the ball has spent so much time in the air, it's kind of difficult to, and for us as a team. So he can't get on the ball and we can't play the way we want to play, which is more of a possession, ball on the ground type of game. So it's difficult for him to really, you know, showcase his talents in these type of games. But I thought he battled when he had to, he won some headers when he had to. When we get into these type of games, we just have to know that maybe we're not going to be able to play him the way we'd like to play today, but we have to make sure that how they're playing, we don't know succumb to their style and lose the game, especially at home. And I thought that was good by the team, but Guti just didn't get on the ball as much as we would like him to because of the nature of the game tonight."
On keeping the same starting lineup next week...
"Well, it's going to play out in the week. You know, I think we've got the team now in a position where you have competition for every position. So that's good to have as a coach. As a staff, this is what we've wanted, and then we'll get some guys back from injury next week, hopefully, so that makes it even more competitive of a squad. Because, even tonight, we were kind of lacking some people that we could make changes with. We didn't have as many attackers as we normally would, with some guys being out, but hopefully next week we get those guys back, and this week it's going to be a competition as far as who's gonna step on the pitch on Saturday."
On having substitutions available at the end of the match...
"Well, tonight especially, it was based on what the game was calling for and if you look on the bench, we have (Javier) Casas, we have Wyatt Omsberg, we have Alonso, we have Kendall Burks. All defensive players, and we weren't looking to hold on to a lead or anything like that tonight, so there was really no need to feature that. Missa (Rodriguez) was still on the bench, the lone attacker we had there, that could have been a possibility. But we thought Kei was doing well and going to a two-forward (line) was not something that we kind of wanted to do tonight. And we almost got the victory, just keeping it, staying with one forward. But it was mainly tactical tonight. No need with so many defenders on the bench
Chicago Fire FC Midfielder Chris Mueller
On the team’s mood following tonight’s result…
“I think it's disappointed. I think that we obviously want to come away with three points every time we play at home. But they obviously made it difficult for us. When you look at the game, they’re super direct. It wasn't a pretty game, not the way that we want to play the game either. But, you know, sometimes it's like that and I think the best thing for us moving forward is to find ways to win games like that, because it won't be the last. So we'll take this and we'll learn, I think there were some positives. We got the shutout, which is always good, but I think that we're disappointed because we always want to win at home.”
On how he deals with the ups and downs of the season…
“It's part of the game, you know. I think that we all understand that it's a business of highs and lows. And you just got to try and remain consistent throughout it all and know that sometimes it comes in waves and we're not going to let ourselves get down because we know that there's another game coming next weekend. So, back to the drawing board and we're just going to continue to work and improve.”
On the next home game and if he feels any pressure looking forward…
“I wouldn't say that there's necessarily added pressure. I think that we continue to put pressure on ourselves because we always want to win at home. So I don't think there's anything added other than the pressure that we continue to put on each other. The standards that we're continuing to try to set.”
On the matchups against his former teammate Ruan…
“Yeah, you know, I obviously played with him for a long time. I think it was two or three years, love the guy, but I think it definitely helps, obviously right? You're competing, you've played with him day in and day out. Like I said two or three years and training everyday so I know his tendencies, maybe which way he likes to defend, which way he doesn't. When he bites, when he doesn't. It made a good challenge for me, he's obviously really pacey so I enjoyed it. But yeah, I think that I also had some good success there as well.”
On the team’s first clean sheet of the season…
“Yeah, like I said, there's some positives to take away from the game. I think that the whole team got behind the ball playing against a D.C. team, who made it really difficult for us. We just played direct. Benteke is obviously a menace in the air. He wins everything. He's holding up the ball, he's strong. So it was difficult for us. He created a lot of chances off of winning the long balls, but the team dug deep and we found a way to get a shutout so that is a positive heading into next week.”
On if he ever gets used to playing in cold temperatures like tonight…
“Yeah, for me it's nothing. I actually think it's much easier to play in the cold. Just compared to Orlando, and even Scotland where I've been playing. I think that this is one of the easier climates to play football. Two weeks ago was a little brutal. That was cold. Tonight was okay. It seemed like it was a little chilly, obviously, but you have a lot of ability to run and you don't really get tired in that sort of weather so for me, it's good.”
Chicago Fire FC Midfielder Brian Gutiérrez
On the team’s mindset following tonight’s result…
“I mean we just have to build off it and keep going. There's a lot of games in hand in the season. We have to bounce back and try to get three points in the next home game.”
On how the team can play a complete game…
“For sure, it was a bit of a scrappy game because they would just bomb it up, play a lot of long balls and try to get the second ball. So it was a scrappy game but we’ll see next game and try to get three points.”
On playing in the 10 position, and his growth and confidence in that role…
“It’s something that I’ve been used to playing since I was little, the 10 position, so it’s one of the positions that I like to play in and I was trying to build off it and make the most of my opportunity and try to play my best soccer.”
On how big the next two home games are…
“We need all six points from these next two home games. These are must-win games. They would feed us a lot throughout the season and I’m looking forward to it.”
On his connection with teammate Chris Mueller…
“We have a great connection. We always try to read off of our movements, we talk a lot on the field and I think we have a really good connection on the field and it shows.”
On If he’s ready for more attention from other teams with his recent play and how he’s handling it already…
“Yeah, I just try to make the most out of my opportunity, try to play my best soccer every game. Show my abilities and we’ll see what happens in the future.”
On not being able to get three points at home…
“Yes, it was a very difficult game. Many long balls and a very difficult match where we couldn’t get the three points. But in the coming match, we need to get those three points.”
On what he can learn from tonight moving forward…
“We need to capitalize on the chances we get in front of the net. Like I said, make the most of these games at home and get the six points ahead.”
On how his recent play is helping his development…
“I want to make the most out of my opportunities, I want to show my qualities on the field and I want to do my best. Hopefully the next two matches demonstrate that.”
