Foxborough, Mass (March 23, 2024) – Chicago Fire FC (1-2-2, 5 points) earned a point on the road with a 1-1 tie against the New England Revolution (0-4-1, 1 point) on Saturday afternoon at Gillette Stadium. Following the match, Head Coach Frank Klopas and Forward Hugo Cuypers spoke with the media.
Chicago Fire FC Head Coach Frank Klopas
On what the team can take away from a game like today’s…
“Yeah, it's always good when you're on the road against, you know, a team that's desperate with the start that they have had but we knew that it was going to be a difficult game, obviously, because they are still a team that has a lot of quality players, and we knew that they were going to come out and we needed to have a good start in the match and I think that was important for us. Conditions were not great for both teams with the rain, but on a turf field I think it helped a little bit because the ball was moving quicker.
I think for us, look, I think we take the point. It's always good on the road to take results. We still feel we could have gotten more out of this match. I think that's for sure. But we go back, we prepare and then we're on the road again in a difficult spot before we come home for a good homestand after that.”
On the team sticking up for each other despite being a relatively new group and it being early in the season…
“Look, I think it's emotions in the game. I think both teams were working extremely hard in the end. It was a huge belief within our group that we were going to find a way to get that second goal.
And you know, there's a lot of emotions in the game. They also, from their start, there was a lot riding on this game. And it was just great to see that as a team we're together in every situation. Hopefully there's no fine that I have to pay for this one because the guys all came together.
Look, I think it's important to control emotions, as always, but I think we are all there as a team to support each other, and I think that was good to see from the group. And it just shows you the mentality and the attitude that this group has. I think it's great to see that we're there to support each other. When we go, we all go together in moments.
But look, at the end of the day, we still want to let the referee do his game. I think it's important that there's a good flow into the match. But I think when things happen, we need to be together as a team and like we were in moments tonight.”
Chicago Fire FC Forward Hugo Cuypers
Overall thoughts on the match and the playing conditions…
“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.”
On the team grinding out a point in a tough environment…
“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.”
If he and the team had to adapt without Xherdan Shaqiri…
“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 before the game that Shaq would not be available for this game, and I think we managed well the moments in the first half, 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.”
Overall thoughts on MLS playing through the international break, with Chris Brady and Xherdan and Brady missing today’s match…
“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.”
