CHICAGO, IL–This past week was one to remember and one that might have changed the season for the Chicago Fire since there was a coaching change that started the week and put Frank Klopas in the head coaching role for a second time.
First, the Fire earned a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis City FC in the Open Cup back on Tuesday and on Saturday they earned a 1-0 shutout in MLS play at Soldier Field.
“I think that we were able to focus and work on a couple things in training. and I think that was a key in both phases in the game.” Klopas said. “I felt we got in trouble in the Open Cup and moments in the game here, where we turned the ball over and then they’re very good team in transition. And a lot of times when both our pivots, Fede (Navarro) and Gaston (Gimenez), maybe left that the central area unoccupied. So, we corrected some things there, we corrected some things with the ball.
“But more than anything, man, it’s like just the mentality to go out and compete and play together and have a great mentality and just leave everything on the field. So, you know, we wanted to be compact, we wanted to move together. So, all that stuff we did but besides the tactical stuff, there’s something here in the heart and the passion that if you love what you do, you have to show it. And I think that’s what these guys did: They played with passion, commitment, and they really represented that jersey that every Chicago, former Fire player, coaches, would have been proud of the way they were in the field today.”
For what Klopas brings to the table extends back to his years of experience along with his passion for the game. In just a short amount of time, he has passed along to the players onto the Fire.
“It was a big, big moment that players responded.” Klopas said. “It’s not always easy playing a team twice. I mean, there’s familiarity. But the guys were up for the game. I felt that coming in the stadium here and having a really good crowd and atmosphere, that always excites them. But there’s a confidence within the team. We have a good team. We have good players. And the key is that, when we play in a collective way, everybody shines and that’s the one message I’ve tried to get across.
I think you have to bring that out and I think I am like that as a person. I know CJ (Brown), Zach (Thornton) are all like that and we are like that because we love what we do. But more importantly is, we love the team and there isn’t anything that we wouldn’t do. We have really good people in this club, man. And, you know, it’s unfortunate that we’ve taken the right strides to get there and it’s not– yeah, winning championships, it’s important and we have to get back to that level. But you want a team that’s going to go on the field, especially here in the Midwest, in Chicago, compete and leave everything on the field. And that’s what the fans want and I felt the players did that today.”
Xherdan Shaqiri realizes with the other players that the effect of Klopas and what he’s trying to do in getting the team back on the winning track.
“I think everybody knows how important Frank is fitting for this club, how good his knowledge is about football and I think this is a big win for the club,” Shaqiri said. “You can see (his effect on) the team straight away. How he explains things to the team and the message, how we want to play, and we tried to put it straight away on the pitch. And yeah, we did very well in the last two games.”
One of the younger players Brian Gutierrez knows and sees what Klopas has to offer for the rest of the team.
“He’s a legend of this club, it’s an honor to play with him,” Gutierrez said. “He’s a really passionate guy, really outspoken guy, he gives us a lot of energy and confidence in our game.”
