Pressure is slowly mounting on the Chicago Fire as they prepare to face Charlotte FC on Saturday, but in spite of that, it is all smiles this week at their downtown training center.
The Fire, led by Head Coach Gregg Berhalter, slipped to consecutive defeats last week, coming out of the two-month World Cup break, conceding a cumulative six goals against top-half rivals Inter Miami and New York City FC. Big-money free agent signing Robert Lewandowski failed to score in his first two MLS regular season games, all the while popular talisman Hugo Cuypers was sold to CF Monterrey last week in a rapid, surprise exit.
“It’s helpful,” Berhalter said Thursday of the first full training week since the season’s restart. “There’s no question about it. Looking at the last two games, we’re not near where we need to be right now, and we need time. This week was certainly helpful.”
“This will be a great month. There are big opportunities this month. We play a couple of Western Conference teams, some of our own conference, and Leagues Cup gets going. I think it’s going to be a really good month, and it’s going to give the whole squad an opportunity to get on the field, which is important.”
Some Assembly Required
In terms of individual quality, the shift from Cuypers to Lewandowski is an upgrade. However, the reality is that the two are totally different types of strikers who, as the lone #9, require a completely altered approach from the surrounding cast.
That was seen in the last two games – Berhalter persisted with a 4-2-4 shape, which had been originally designed to accommodate the ill-fated Lewandowski-Cuypers partnership; after the Miami and NYCFC tests, it is clear that it could not get the most out of the new #9, while weakening the midfield and limiting the effectiveness of the wide players.
“Absolutely, both how we attack and defend,” Berhalter said when asked if he felt the team needed to reinvent itself tactically. “That’s what I mean by a lot of work to do because, candidly, we’re still figuring it out. That’s the reality. But we’re doing it, and the guys have been working hard and been into it. It’s also kind of fun to be having to work through this and solve the puzzle. Hopefully on Saturday, we’ll start to see that come to fruition.”
There are several ways this could happen. The most obvious starting point would be moving away from the nominal two-striker setup, allowing an extra body to be added either to the back line or midfield. In a 4-3-3, Sergio Oregel could be the most natural fit to slide in next to Anton Salétros, with Djé D’Avilla (or Mauricio Pineda) deeper as the #6; Philip Zinckernagel would also be an option as more of a #10. Such a shape would take some pressure off of the Salétros-D’Avilla double pivot, which has been somewhat overrun in the last few matches, and allow the wide players (and more specifically, left back Andrew Gutman) to be more adventurous in possession.
“It’s important for us to have a training week that is how you want it and how you expect it,” captain Jack Elliott exclusively told MIR97 Media earlier this week. “Having the time during the week to work on things and work together, as opposed to just playing and recovering and going again. It’s going to be good to have these few days to figure things out.”
“We’re not trying to reinvent ourselves. I think we understand what we need to do to win, and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”
Center Back to Square One
The biggest difference between the 2025 Fire and 2026 Fire was the addition of Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who turned the center back position from a relative uncertainty into a serious strength en route to being named an MLS All-Star. However, the South African international is now out for over two months with a torn thigh that will keep him sidelined until at least October, meaning the Fire are essentially back to the same center backs they had last season – Elliott, Joel Waterman, Sam Rogers, and Christopher Cupps (who is currently away with the U.S. U-20 national team).
As a result, in each of the last two games, Berhalter’s center back duo of choice was that of Elliott and Waterman, the same pairing that closed out 2025. It also means Elliott shifted from the right side of the pairing to his non-dominant left side, where he spent most of last year.
“It’s been good,” Elliott said of his partnership with Waterman. “We have a good understanding and know how we play. Joel’s a great player and it’s fun to play with him. I’ve been enjoying it.”
“When I’m on the left, it’s a little bit different for me – just the shape of the game and the way I want to play it. There are certainly challenges there for me in adjusting to that a little bit.”
For Berhalter, center back has also become a position under closer scrutiny. Following the loss to NYCFC, the manager openly discussed the possibility of adding another defender in the transfer market, or even recalling Cupps from international duty with the U.S. U-20s. Neither scenario would be ideal given MLS’ limited roster spots and Cupps’ crucial role on the U.S. team, but given the upcoming run of games in August, both are cards in Berhalter’s pocket.
“Defending is a team game,” Berhalter said. “Some of the luxury we had with [Mbokazi] was putting out fires. If you lose some of that, the margins are a little bit smaller. We just have to be good. We have to be balanced. We have to be in the right position… it’s fine details that could make the difference between winning and losing, and we’ll keep improving on that.”
“We have three center backs right now, plus potentially (Jack) Sandmeyer from the second team. The center backs have been challenged, there’s no question about it. But I think those are the guys that will respond. We looked at some stuff from the last game and against Miami, and I think it’s a good opportunity for our center backs. Whether it’s Joel, Jack, Sam, whoever it is, it’s a great opportunity in this home game.”
Sandmeyer, who was the Fire’s first round draft selection in December, made two bench appearances earlier this season in MLS, meaning he has two short-term call-ups remaining. The 6-foot-6 defensive midfield-turned-center back also missed several weeks with injury earlier in the summer, but is now training with the first team. Though he could be useful in case of further defensive injuries or setbacks, Berhalter will hope to avoid a similar situation to what he encountered last season with Sam Williams, where he would be forced to use a roster spot on a second team player for short-term relief – that would probably be the scenario in which Cupps would be recalled from international duty.
Golden Shoes to Fill
While Lewandowski hasn’t quite hit the ground running as quickly as some expected, it’s clear that the Fire think it is far too early to panic, and that his integration into the team is happening as planned. It is quite significant that not only will he be judged against himself and his own historic goalscoring record, but also against his predecessor Cuypers – who, in addition to his Golden Boot-leading form, was viewed by his teammates as a leader on and off the field and someone who wore the captain’s armband at times during his stay.
The feeling right now from within the camp is that while losing Cuypers and his presence is not ideal, things are moving in the right direction with Lewandowski as he acclimates to his new environment and hopes to fill his own leadership role.
“I think we all pretty much found out at the same time as everyone else,” Elliott said of Cuypers’ exit. “It happened quickly. I think it’s sad to see him go and tough to lose a player of his quality, but I think it’s a good move for him. Obviously, we would have loved if he could have stayed here and been with us for the rest of the season and beyond, but that’s the way football is. You have to move on sometimes.”
“[Lewandowski] has a lot of ideas and a lot of expertise to impart on everyone,” the captain said of the new star #9. “He’s seen the game at the highest level and has a lot of wisdom to give everyone. He seems to fit in seamlessly to me. He’s come in and looked fit and sharp from the start, so I’m looking forward to seeing more of him.”
This Saturday, Lewandowski appears set for his second MLS start after coming off the bench against NYCFC. The former Borussia Dortmund, FC Bayern München, and FC Barcelona forward will be hungry for his first Fire goal, and finding it would quiet at least some of the negativity surrounding the team’s difficult first two weeks back.
“You could see Robert getting his legs underneath him,” Berhalter said. “Credit to him; the guy is the first out on the field, the last to leave the field, doing extra sessions. He came in on Sunday to train, and he’s doing everything he can. It’s just a race against time, right? He’s only been training for two weeks right now. But we’re getting there, and we’ve just got to stay patient and keep working on it.”
“There’s one thing to attract a world-class talent like Robert Lewandowski, and then having the infrastructure to support him,” Berhalter added. “We’re not there yet, and that’s what we’re striving to do: create a team that can also win with a star. For us, it’s a work in progress. The guys are doing well, the staff is doing well, and Robert’s doing well. Now it’s just time to keep it up and start winning games.”
