The Chicago Fire head into the 2023 MLS season looking to end their long wait to reach the Playoffs.
Champions in 1998 and three-time MLS Cup finalists, the Fire haven’t made the post-season in each of their last five attempts, while they’ve finished above the line in just two of the last 13 seasons.
It’s been a winter of change with goalkeeping wonderkid Gabriel Slonina officially departing for Chelsea and Aston Villa spending big on young Colombian striker Jhon Duran. But Ezra Hendrickson showed promise during his first season as head coach and will hope to finally re-establish Chicago among the elite.
So, here’s everything you need to know about the Chicago Fire ahead of the new MLS season, including tactics, key players, and predictions.
Transfers in
|
Player |
Former Club |
Fee |
|---|---|---|
|
Arnaud Souquet |
Montpellier |
Free transfer |
|
Jeff Gal |
Degerfors |
Free transfer |
|
Jonathan Dean |
Birmingham Legion |
Undisclosed |
|
Maren Halle-Selassie |
FC Lugano |
Loan |
Transfers out
|
Player |
Club Joined |
Fee |
|---|---|---|
|
Jhon Duran |
Aston Villa |
$18m |
|
Jhon Espinoza |
FC Lugano |
Free transfer |
|
Stanislav Ivanov |
Arda Kardzhali |
Free transfer |
|
Jonathan Bornstein |
CDS Vida |
Free transfer |
|
Boris Sekulic |
– |
Released |
|
Andre Reynolds II |
– |
Released |
|
Gabriel Slonina |
Chelsea |
End of loan |
Lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, there really isn’t too much intricacy with the way Hendrickson makes his teams play.
The man himself stated ahead of last season that the Fire would play possession soccer, though they ended up middling in terms of their possession share with an average of 49% per match.
Other than that, it was about defending in a mid-block and denying space, then getting the ball to their best players – Xherdan Shaqiri, Jhon Duran, Kacper Przybylko – as quickly as possible to make things happen.
With Duran gone, it remains to be seen just how effective their attack will be this time around.
Chicago Fire predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Brady; Souquet, Teran, Czichos, M. Navarro; F. Navarro, Gimenez; Torres, Shaqiri, Gutierrez; Przybylko.
Xherdan Shaqiri
Shaqiri endured a couple of disruptions due to injury during his debut season, but still managed to show plenty of promise. Seven goals and six assists in 29 appearances is by no means a poor return.
However, more will be expected of the Switzerland international this time around, especially with so much firepower leaving in Duran.
Shaqiri will likely line up as a No.10, where he can use his skill and agility to evade defenders and feed Chicago’s forwards. However, we…
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