Much has been rightfully made of the goals from Robert Berić and Mauricio Pineda following the Fire’s Tuesday morning 2-1 win over the Seattle Sounders.
In their opening match of the MLS is Back Tournament, head coach Raphael Wicky’s men dug in and got the three points needed to (briefly) put them atop the standings in Group B.
As a bonus, the ensuing conversation around the team over the last several days has brought with it a glimpse at just how much the group seems to simply be enjoying one another.
“From the beginning, I always told you guys we have a really good chemistry on the team and we have a really good group of players - on the field and also off the field,” Wicky said at Friday’s media availability. “We see that here, as well.”
While there is inherent pressure to perform well and make a deep tournament run - alongside the 24/7 mindfulness required to adhere to the league’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols - Wicky’s team appears to be genuinely making the most of their shared stay inside the MLS “bubble”.
“Obviously winning games helps you,” Wicky said. “Everything is easier and everything is nicer when you win. But even in March when we lost in Seattle our team chemistry was really, really good and we continued to do that and we continue actually to emphasize on that telling (the players) how important that is.”
“So, we are enjoying our time here,” he added. “We came here to play. We are all excited to be here to train again together and play, but we also try to do the most out of it when we have a little bit of time off.”
On the mini-golf course or at the pool or in celebrating together, the group dynamic appears just as strong off the pitch as it did in Tuesday morning's win.
“I can repeat myself again and again: I think we have a very good team spirit,” goalkeeper Kenneth Kronholm said. “We have a high-quality team. We work hard together. I can give you an easy example. Our gym sessions are always not mandatory, but the whole team - so 100 percent of the team - is joining the gym sessions. These are small things that makes me happy. So, every time we are on the pitch together, that makes it much easier for the match day.”
Wicky credits his group’s shared determination to win the MLS is Back Tournament as an ingredient in the chemistry shown so far. It’s something he’s already seen carried over onto the field.
“The guys would didn't play (on Tuesday) who were on the bench were cheering, were helping, were talking to them and I think that is what it's about,” he said. “It's about the team spirit and that everyone actually has the same goal.”
“I always said we have a great team both personally and on the field,” midfielder Álvaro Medrán added via a translator. “All the players have been wonderful. And so, it really makes the team better on the field when everyone gets along off the field.”
Upending the reigning MLS Cup Champions was just the first hurdle, though. The San Jose Earthquakes -- whom the Fire will take on Sunday night (7 p.m. CT | FS1, TUDN) -- present a unique challenge of their own. Head coach Matias Almeyda’s squad currently leads Group B with four points after two matches played.
“We expect a difficult game,” Medrán said. “We saw they are an intense team that runs all the way through the game up until the last minute. We saw that against Vancouver; that they kept pushing right up till the very end. It's going to be difficult."
A win on Sunday night would secure the Fire’s advancement out of Group B and a place in the Tournament’s knockout round. While the current wave of positivity is welcome, the group’s resolve remains.
“Hopefully it will be good for the fans, and our intent is always going out there and get the three points and play a very good game.”
