BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (July 9, 2023) – Chicago Fire FC II (6-6-5-0) ended a brief two-match homestand with a 0-0 draw against FC Cincinnati 2 (4-8-4-2). Following a 4-3 shootout victory, Cincinnati earned an additional point. Spencer Richey recorded a solitary save and earned his first clean sheet of the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season.
Chicago Fire FC II Head Coach Ludovic Taillandier and midfielder Richard Fleming III discussed the result after the conclusion of the match.
Chicago Fire FC II Head Coach Ludovic Taillandier
On frustrations with the result…
“We see a game where we are trying to have some control and to increase the pace. It was not easy and it also is open-ended. They did well at trying to keep the pace a little low in the game and to do the restarts a little slower. So, they pulled the pace a little down in the game and we didn't find a way to really increase the pace and the tempo of the game, as much as I would have liked.
That being said, I think we had the best chances. We should have scored at least one and that's why I say: one of those games where you feel extremely frustrated in the end that you didn't score. That you didn't concede or so, that would be a good part for today. But again, it's mostly frustration at the moment.”
On a higher number of shots from beyond the box…
“Maybe. We struggled to enter the box. It may be something to give them, that they probably defended close to their goal pretty well and we struggled to enter, to go to the center and to enter the box. We crossed, we shot a little more from outside of the box. But that's, in general, the reflex when you play against a low back line and you try to score and then you lose a little bit of patience. Again, we should have done that a little better, like trying to increase the tempo when we had the ball and trying to get to better spots to score eventually.”
On the importance of Richard Fleming III…
“It's one of his last games. Fantastic human being. The kind of guy that you know you can definitely trust that he will give his absolute best effort every single day at practice, during games. On top of that, he's a really good player. He's able to defend, to attack, he's a box-to-box guy. He is versatile. He can play on the wing as a right back or right wingback. He can play in the middle of the park. He’s really a very important player in the locker room and we will miss him.”
On the performance of Henrique Gallina…
“Look, we have a lot of players that are adjusting to a different load. We train hard, we get fitter but also sometimes, you feel the fatigue a little bit that is part of what any athlete can feel. There are ups and downs but in general, our players are very fit. He was probably a little tired from the last few weeks. I would think that's it.”
Chicago Fire FC Midfielder Richard Fleming III
On how he felt competitively all around the pitch…
“Obviously a frustrating finish, would have liked to get away with three points for sure. It wasn't our sharpest game. I'm not gonna lie. It was a challenging game for us. They didn't play out the back. We were looking to press them pretty high. But they were skipping lines. They were looking to play pretty direct, so we were trying to challenge first and second balls trying to just kind of match them in the air physically. And I think we did a pretty good job of it, but just tough to not get a goal. Tough to not get three points and win.”
On how he felt progressing up in the field of play…
“I felt in the first half and beginning of the second half I was playing more of the 10 role. I was able to get up the field a little bit more. Trying to dictate the play a little bit higher, then dropping down a little bit more to six towards the end of the game to keep control of the ball. Yeah, I would have liked to get a little bit higher. But I gotta gotta do whatever I can for the team to keep a clean sheet and then see if I can dictate the game from a little bit farther back.”
On adjusting to his position change in the second half…
“I would like to get on the ball a little bit more. I would like to get a little more involved in the game. To see if I could create a little bit more from the back. But just keeping my composure I was getting a little bit sloppy towards the end. So just trying to try and keep the game under control.”
On how he feels as his time at Chicago Fire FC II is coming to an end…
“Bittersweet about leaving for sure. I love this team. I love this group of guys. I think the last year has been unbelievable for me personally, but for us as a group as well. It's a little sad for me to have to leave here. This has been my home for a while. So I've loved it here. I've loved it the last few months being able to just kind of grow into myself and even play some of the best soccer that I've been playing so far. So I'm sad but excited for the new challenge. But, a little bittersweet ending for sure.”
On where he has grown the most…
“Just confidence, composure on the ball, being able to go forward. I think that's where my game is starting to improve. You can see it in some of the goals and assists that I've been able to provide. So just helping the team a little bit higher up. I think that's where I've been able to progress the most the past year. This team has taught me a lot and I want to keep growing like that. I want to bring whatever I can from here up to Wisconsin, into the future, even past that. So I'm looking forward to it.”
On what position he would like to play in college…
“Wherever the coach puts me, I'll be open to anything. But I think I'll be going into a roll kind of in the middle, somewhere in the middle of the park. Six, eight or 10 one of those three. I’m pretty versatile. I can play a little bit everywhere.”
