Fire Insider spoke with Fire technical director, Frank Klopas, on his feelings about the season and plans to keep busy in the off season.
Fire Insider: What do you feel is the greatest accomplishment of the team this season?
Frank Klopas: Reaching the conference championship game. You are one game away from the finals; you are one of four teams left in the season. When a head coach comes in, and in a very short time puts a staff together and gets the group organized and focused and believing in one goal of reaching the championship, that's pretty amazing in the short turnaround. Anytime you can reach a conference championship you are so close, obviously a little disappointed, but it was a successful season.
FI: Was there any player that stood-out or surprised you this season; a breakout player?
FK: It was good for me to see someone like John Thorrington because he had some problems in the past dealing with injury issues and for him most of the year to be happy and have an impact season like he did, it was great to see. Also someone like Jon Busch. That was fantastic to see - his leadership. It's great to see someone who puts so much into it and at the end of the day get rewarded. Someone like Baky [Bakary Soumare], really stepped up and I think has tremendous potential. But overall those are the things we look at. I think it was a team effort. I think the most important thing for us is that we don't rely on one or two guys. We rely on the team and the styles we play. Those are important things, it's all about the team and throughout the season we used different guys and everyone has been able to step up and that's a credit to the organization
FI: What are your plans for the off-season?
FK: Continue scouting with the head coach [Denis Hamlet] and the coaching staff making sure we see as many games as possible to compile as much information as possible going into the Combine; and also look at certain needs of the team and look to improve and do whatever is possible to take the next step and reach the finals. I think that we have a good group together that is committed and works very hard, but we'll continue to work 24/7 looking at every angle and every way we can improve ourselves and improve the team.
FI: What is your perspective on international competitions, having your guys go play international competitions with their respective National teams next season?
FK: I think it's very positive, it's a good thing. Club soccer is one level but when you go up to the international game, it's a different level. I think its great exposure and experience. You get better and mature as a player and that carries through to the club where everyone can pick up on that and get better. It's a step above club level.
FI: Anything you would like to say to the fans?
FK: I've said it before: I grew up in the city of Chicago and played with the Sting and finished with the Fire. The passion of the fans is incredible. The atmosphere they create is amazing and they help us on the field because they give us energy and they are very important to our organization
