Postmatch Quotes
Chicago Fire 1:2 New England Revolution
Match Recap
Chicago Fire FC Head Coach Raphael Wicky
On the team’s strong first half and overall performance in the match…
"Overall, for over 60 minutes, we had done, I think, a really good match. We started, I mean again, I'm talking all year about the same things, that 1-0 is a goal we shouldn't concede. The first ball, Francisco (Calvo) has to clear (it) away and then nothing happens there. However, the team responded really, really well, played really well, created chances, scored but we should have won at halftime, that's a fact. Then, we came out strong again, we have chances, we don't score and then, you've all been there, or you have all seen it, then the player wants to cross and the ball goes in, which was a big hit on the head for the players. And then they started sitting deeper, they were 2-1 up, they started sitting with nine men behind the ball, which is difficult to break down. We pushed, we pushed, we pushed, we had our little moments but yeah, we couldn't find a solution then to actually score. Look, I'm sitting here again and I have to say the same thing, if we wouldn't create, if we wouldn't have a plan, if I wouldn't see that the guys are trying and actually playing well, I would have to doubt and I would have to say I question things. That's not the case in my eyes, so I will have to say the same thing over: we have to keep working and keep believing in what we do. We are creating chances, we are a good team and we have to keep doing that. But as well, of course, we have to be more demanding with ourselves and not giving up such easy goals as well; when we have the chances, we have to finish them. But yeah, I'm not going to start questioning everything if I see a performance like tonight."
On the decision to start Elliot Collier at forward…
"It was a matter of rotation, I wanted Elliot in there. No, nothing else, I mean Robert had his five stitches on his head from Cincinnati, but I just decided to go for Elliot. I think Elliot had a really good performance. Obviously, he missed two or three big chances, but he created, he was dangerous every time. So that's the reason."
On completing a tight window of games…
"I think you can see it from both sides: when you lose, you actually normally want to play as soon as possible again so that the loss doesn't stop too long. It is what it is. I think the players have a day off tomorrow; that's important, we didn't have a day off for a while. It's important to enjoy your day off with (your) families and clear your minds, and then they go back to work on Tuesday and prepare for Columbus. Like I said, we have to keep working on what we do. There are very good things, there's a lot of positives.”
Chicago Fire FC Midfielder Fabian Herbers
On the frustration of the team creating several chances but not being able to capitalize…
“Yeah the frustration level is pretty high, I would say. Again we played good, we played a very solid game here at home. (We) really wanted to win this, to get ahead a little bit with three points. But I mean we concede an early goal which is always tough but I thought the team responded pretty well to that. (We) created several opportunities from set pieces and then out of the play we come back with the 1-1 and go into halftime. And we kept pushing, kept pushing. And then you concede a goal like that from Teal Bunbury where he tries to cross the ball and it ends up in the back of the net. Yeah, unexplainable at this point, and you keep pushing all game and have the majority of the possession and try to create some chances. But, if you concede a goal like that, it’s always hard to come back.”
On whether there were any positives to take away from the team’s performance on the night…
“No definitely, I thought it was positive first of all, how we responded, you know? You get an early goal and then you come back. That shows character from the team, that shows character that we’re motivated and we want to win these games and can come back and have the quality to do that. And credit to the group that we responded that way we did and then again, if you concede a goal like that it’s difficult but again I thought the midfield play looked solid. I think Álvaro (Medrán) and Gastón (Giménez) are getting to know each other more and more. The runs in behind that myself and Frankie (Przemysław Frankowski) and Elliot (Collier) did as well. Nacho is looking good in the middle. I thought we looked sharp in the first half, especially. In the second half we had the majority of the possession but we couldn’t really break through. But there are certainly a lot of positives from that that we can take away and build from that.”
On what Elliot Collier brings to the team on the attack…
“Elliot is a very fast guy. I think he’s the fastest guy on the team when he goes all out. I mean he’s tall, he always fights for every ball. He’s very dangerous when he makes those runs in behind. I think he showed that against New York City FC when he created one chance out of nothing and yeah today he had a couple as well. He had a header in the first half where the keeper made a great save so I thought he played a very good game, starting the game. Robert (Berić) is more of a technical guy who likes the ball in his feet turning with it, and then finishing off that, but I thought you get a different picture and thought he fit in well.”
Chicago Fire FC Forward Elliot Collier
On getting the start as the No. 9 instead of on the wing…
“Yeah, traditionally, I have been a winger. But, you know, you got to adapt your game and take the opportunities when they come so I was happy to get the start. I thought I could have done a little bit better with a couple of chances but that’s how the game goes.”
On how he felt starting today…
“Yeah, sure, you said it right there, first start in a couple of years so it’s a great feeling. I’ve been working really hard to make it happen and we didn’t get the result so it’s just back to work.”
On how difficult it is to come in as a starter after coming on as a sub for most of the previous matches…
“Yeah, I don’t really think it’s too big of an issue coming as a sub and playing my game as it is. But I just have to do the same when I start. I started, but when I come on I’m doing the same thing so I don’t think it’s been too big of an issue. We work really well together on the practice field and we got to bring it, game time. Unfortunately we didn’t get the result today but there was some good stuff out there.”
