The Chicago Fire are running out of time in the MLS Regular Season and are in a must-win situation this weekend when they host the New York Red Bulls at Soldier Field.
Chicago is without a win in its last four MLS contests and its last six matches in all competitions and currently trails DC United by six points for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
In comes RBNY to the lakefront and the Fire haven’t scored multiple goals in each of their last three matches against their Harrison, New Jersey-based opponents. Fire defender Arnaud Souquet expects the typical high-pressing RBNY side to be another difficult test.
“I know in football it is difficult to score every game, especially against Red Bull, maybe our style of football is different than the other team,” said Souquet. “They press a lot. Maybe they changed a little this year, but last year [it] was a difficult game.
Now every game is difficult, and we need to give more for the fans to give a good result because it's too long [since we’ve won]. Now it's important to score and not concede too many goals to win the games, especially at home.”
Souquet has once again found himself in the Fire’s starting lineup after looking for a new home in the offseason. Now firmly entrenched at the right center back spot having made 20 appearances and 15 starts in MLS, Souquet is now quite comfortable in his role with the Fire rolling with five defenders in the back.
“I can help the team because I have the quality to realize the first touch and pass to help the team get in a good direction. That's why I am playing well and after a different game, I think I play well, too, so the staff will be happy with my performance.
“So now that's why I stay in the team, but I'm not satisfied because we don't win a lot of games, and for me it's very special. Because I came here to win something, to help the club to grow and to answer the expectations of the fans. I understand they are angry; the players, too, and we need to give everything for the last six games because it's important for the players and everybody to finish strong and everything can happen in football.”
From the rest of my notebook:
Frank Klopas
The Fire’s head coach has seen his side struggle to find results recently due to mistakes in the defensive half, two of which allowed D.C. United to score twice within five minutes last weekend in Bridgeview. He knows his defense needs to clean things up if they want to somehow turn their season around at the last moment.
“I think it starts from clean sheets,” Klopas said during his weekly media availability. “I think mistakes will be made in games, but our reactions have to improve and get better. You look at the last game against D.C. here, I mean, maybe the first half, it wasn't the 45 minutes with the intensity, it wasn't bad, but it's a situation from two set pieces, two throw-ins, we had numbers behind the ball and we give up goals and then you're chasing the game. We had them pinned in. They are in a low block.
“For me it's coming out with a good mentality, understanding, like I said, every team is going to approach the game in a different way. I mean, their DNA, how they want to press an opponent, how you try to build up play, and you know, what are the trigger points that we know and it's just about not playing to their strengths. That's the thing. And when we do get chances, you've got to put them away.”
Klopas wants his side to come out and create positive momentum in front of the home crowd on the lakefront.
“It's a good mentality to come up in the game with intensity, with energy, really being proactive and anticipating the next play and obviously when we get chances, we need to be more brave, more confident and put those chance as way. A big part of it is that. You score the first goal, you know, confidence builds and momentum, belief, all that, the crowd gets behind the team. You know, all those little things do help. When you give up two goals or you fall behind and you're chasing a game, you know, and it makes it a little bit more difficult. But the mentality with the team, it's like I said, I think this team has never given up. I think we’ve fought all the way to the end and it's just sometimes it gets difficult to dig yourself out of holes that we create for ourselves.”
International Window
Ariel Lassiter, Costa Rica
Lassiter started both of Costa Rica’s CONCACAF Nations League A Group stage matches during the window. He scored the final goal while playing the entirety of their 3-0 win over Guadeloupe before playing 72 minutes in their 0-0 result against Guatemala.
Georgios Koutsias, Greece U21
Koutsias played in his side’s 4-0 win over Faroe Islands U21 and scored in the 51st minute to extend his side’s lead to 3-0 in the EURO U21 Qualification Group G match.
Omari Glasgow, Guyana
Glasgow started and played 69 minutes in Guyana’s 3-1 loss to Suriname in CONCACAF Nations League A Group A, scoring his side’s only goal from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute to briefly tie the match. The Fire II winger was an unused substitute in Guyana’s 2-2 draw against Martinique.
Free Agents
The Major League Soccer Player’s Association released its list of players who will be free agents in the offseason which included the Chicago Fire’s Fabian Herbers, Wyatt Omsberg, Spencer Richey, and Ariel Lassiter.
What’s On Tap Next?
The Fire will host the New York Red Bulls at Soldier Field on Saturday. The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 PM CT and will air on MLS Season Pass on AppleTV+.
Going to Soldier Field on Saturday? Plan ahead. Look up street closures and allow for additional time to get to Soldier Field.
Follow @soccer_ontap on X for more Chicago Fire news and updates!
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