Know Your Opponent: Chicago Fire with Joe Chatz | The Heron Outlet
The On Tap Sports soccer reporter answers our questions about Inter Miami’s next opponent
photo courtesy of the Chicago Fire
Inter Miami return home after back to back weeks on the road. Along the way, they dropped both games, a 1-0 defeat to New York City FC, and a 2-0 loss to Toronto FC.
Returning to DRV PNK Stadium will be a welcome sight for the Herons. Miami is 2-0-0 at home in 2023 and are 12-2-2 in their last 16 dating back to last season.
They’ll host the Chicago Fire, who have just two points so far this year and find themselves in the Eastern Conference basement at the moment.
The Heron Outlet caught up with Joe Chatz, soccer reporter for On Tap Sports in Chicago, to preview this weekend’s match.
Chicago gave up 2 goals in the last 10 minutes to finish with a 3-3 draw last week against Cincinnati. What’s been so difficult for the club to start the season as they still look for their first win?
“Consistency has been the key for Chicago and they have simply lacked it through three matches in 2022. First, it was salvaging a point at Soldier Field after Jairo Torres and Federico Navarro came off with injuries in the first half. Then the Fire should’ve at least shared the points in Philadelphia. They were the better side (outscored PHI 1.36-1.09 in xG, per FotMob) despite being down a man after the 50th minute and playing the final part of stoppage time with just nine men after Kei Kamara was sent off.
Then, there was the collapse against FC Cincinnati. FCC are a solid side, but the Fire had no business coming away from that match without all three points. Fire head coach Ezra Hendrickson was critical of the outside backs performance post-match and he had a right to be.”
The club didn’t defend entry passes well and Cincinnati stole points because of it.”
Jhon Duran and Gaga Slolina leave in the off-season on record transfers. How has the team re-invested that money to try to improve the squad?
“Well, they haven’t reinvested anything close to the amount that came in, but the Fire have made some helpful additions to their club after a disappointing 2022 season. In fact, outgoing transfer money hasn’t really been a thing for the Fire at this.
Veteran striker Kei Kamara was signed just before the season to add an attacking boost, but he was a free transfer. Arnaud Souquet was a free transfer from Montpellier in Ligue 1. Third-string goalkeeper Jeff Gal came in on a free transfer.
Other than Jonathan Dean, who the Fire acquired from the USL Championship’s Birmingham Legion, the Fire have not spent much money yet.
Loanees Maren Haile-Selassie and Alonso Aceves (available for selection Saturday, per Hendrickson) have options for purchase after their loans expire.”
Brian Gutierrez is an exciting teenage midfielder in the USMNT system. What makes him so special for the Fire and how have they used him to build the attack?
“Guti is a special player who sounds much older than he is. He’s made 58 MLS starts and he’s not even 20. If you have MLS Season Pass, make Gutiérrez someone you try and watch. He’s that talented.
The beauty about Gutiérrez’s role in Chicago is that you can place him in any attacking midfielder role or even challenge him as a winger and he will find a way to thrive. He’s seen his most MLS success when he is in the number 10 role for the Fire. His distribution is sensational and his teammates love the calm he as on the ball. He’s played so well in the number 10 role that he may force Xherdan Shaqiri to a winger role when he returns from injury.”
Ezra Hendrickson enters Year 2 in charge of the Fire. What has he learned about his coaching style and tactics from last year to this year that can improve the team’s results?
“Ezra Hendrickson is the type of coach who will adapt a system to the players he has, rather than forcing them to conform to a strict coaching philosophy or whatever.
Currently, the big issue is whether the club should have three center backs starting alongside two outside backs or if the team can survive with a back four featuring two center backs. At some point he will have to make a decision and stick with it, but with the injuries the club has already suffered I can see Hendrickson flipping around his defensive backlines for the next month.
The team is in a much better place than it was last season. There is a newfound attacking presence that is slowly coming together on the pitch and that gives the Fire the potential to be an incredibly dangerous side. However, until there is consistency health-wise, the Fire’s formation and tactics can change by the half.”
Are there any key absences due to injury or international duty? What formation/lineup can we expect and what’s your prediction?
“Injury wise, Jairo Torres and Federico Navarro are out. Xherdan Shaqiri is out as well. Chris Brady was dealing with a knock from training this week but Ezra Hendrickson said he expects his keeper to play in Fort Lauderdale.
Miguel Navarro (Venezuela) and Sergio Oregel (US-19) are on national team duties.
I’d expect the Fire to line up in the same 4-2-3-1 they began with against FC Cincinnati with one change to the lineup. I expect newcomer Alonso Aceves to make his MLS debut on Saturday, starting at left back.”
Project Fire 11: Chris Brady, Alonso Aceves, Rafael Czichos, Carlos Terán, Arnaud Souquet, Chris Mueller, Maren Halie-Selassie, Brian Gutiérrez, Kacper Przybylko.
Prediction: Fire win 3-2