Chicago Fire FC Head Coach Frank Klopas
On what he thinks made it so difficult for the team to get chances against Atlanta United…
“Well, obviously, keeping a clean sheet and setting timely goals is the first step in all of this. I felt that we had a harder time in the first half. As a team, I believe we put ourselves in really tough situations when we give up goals, even though we’ve talked about building up our play and doing the things we’ve discussed. Naturally, the 44th minute appeared out of nowhere, and you know, it’s related to what we had discussed.
However, I believe that when you’re playing on the road against a strong team, those goals become costly.
We played well in the first twenty to twenty-five minutes, and I believe that in the second half we played better. However, our final third performance was even more impressive; players’ inventiveness and one-on-one skills allowed them to beat opponents, get good crosses, and create opportunities. We obviously gave up a second goal because we lacked the capacity to do so. Once more, it was difficult for me.
And after that, the red card was one of those that, in those kinds of situations, put the team in a really tough situation when they made a play like that. Next, we took a chance. We made every effort to push the game as far as we could, but then you start to let your guard down, just as we did towards the end. However, it all starts, in my opinion, with just, you know, losing 0–0 at halftime and not giving up a goal like that. In the second part, we awoke somewhat, but not sufficiently. It was insufficient.
Regarding how the group can place Hugo Cuypers in more risky situations with the ball…
“We need to give him crosses.” Our entire strategy today was to overload the sides, and when we succeeded, you have to go back and watch how many wide-open opportunities we had to break lines. As a result, we now need to alter the game’s rhythm. You must strike quickly and provide him with assistance. Well, we were in a good place. However, he will certainly have fewer touches and other things if you don’t give him the ball, don’t serve him, and don’t position him well.
This brings up another point I wanted to make: we were in fortunate situations. We intended to take them out in those expansive spaces. I believe we, particularly in the second half and the first twenty-five minutes, but we also need to move at a steady pace. We must launch an offensive. We need to assign defenders. We need to get crosses in while running behind. And since we failed to do so, Hugo and other strikers will find it challenging and frustrating.
On Maren Haile-Selassie playing on the left wing after spending a lot of time on the right wing for Chicago this season…
“I changed the guys around. I was aware that they had overloaded the side containing [Brooks] Lennon and Saba [Lobjanidze], which was the right side. You understand, but there’s also the fact that they exhibit vulnerability during times of change. And because they are strong when their outside backs get forward, we started the game with him out wide and Fabi [Herbers] on the other side. We tried to open up more space for Guti [Brian Gutierrez] in the middle, but it didn’t work, so we quickly changed it because the middle was experiencing actual pressure. Maren, I believe, possesses the ability because we have occasionally placed a lot of emphasis on the left in the past. He prefers to enter on the right foot. However, I believe he feels at ease playing either side. But the way we began the game made this more of a tactical scenario.
On playing some of the best teams in the Eastern Conference during the Club’s first few matches of the season and what those teams have that the Fire is lacking
“You immediately put yourself in a hole when you set out on the road and give up goals the way we give up goals, timely goals. We have to maintain a clean sheet because when we are in good positions, we are less dangerous in the last third. We must maintain tight control.
Giving up soft goals, like the first two were for me, makes things difficult whether you’re playing on the road, against opponents, or even at home. Things up there need to be tightened. We must give the field more of our attention. In situations like that, I believe there needs to be more leadership on the pitch because it’s difficult for us in the 45th or 44th minute in front of 45,000 spectators. They find it difficult to hear. This is a mindset that we have discussed and discussed a lot. In actuality, it’s a mindset. It requires the entire team.
And while we’re assessing, you know, we have to see how specific things stand right now. If not, we must come up with the appropriate fixes. With the guys there, I have to figure out the best solutions that will at the very least be more focused and truly cued in. Because you put yourself in a difficult situation when you set goals like that. There are no other options. Nothing more that we can do. We have a lot of options, but you can’t expect to win many games if you concede three goals in a match.
Chicago Fire FC Winger Maren Haile-Selassie
Regarding his emotions and the opportunities he had during the game…Indeed, it’s a really difficult one. We weren’t hoping to concede goals that way—that is, through crosses between the centre backs and the second post—but I think the coaching staff did a great job preparing us for this match, particularly the first two goals we gave up.
Yes, it’s a difficult one. We also enjoyed a few pleasant times. We were in good positions when we honoured the structure. Now it’s just a matter of finding the ball. But today is a really difficult one.
Regarding the lessons that can be drawn from how the game was played out…They are among the better teams, as you said. However, I believe that we came to compete, and we performed well for the most part. With the exception of the goals they scored, I believe they didn’t have many great opportunities.
Yes, we can learn a lot from this game as long as we respect the structure and maintain mental focus to avoid giving up easily or committing foolish mistakes like red cards and crosses. However, we did concede goals.
Regarding his feelings as a left winger,”I felt rather well. I was more or less in the pockets and not really out wide because we wanted to build out with three guys behind, especially today. We had some nice combinations, and I think I found some good spaces. As I previously stated, the final pass and finish are what matter now.
Regarding the sensation of returning to Soldier Field following two consecutive turf games…”To be honest, even though the two turfs we recently played on are of a decent calibre, I’m excited to play at home again because it’s never easy to play away. We didn’t have to make a significant adjustment. Of course, though, you would much rather play on regular grass—especially at home. We have some home games coming up in the next few games. These will be very important games for us.
Leave a Reply