Two wins in a row, and just one goal conceded in the last 180 minutes.
I’m here to tell you to, yes, be excited about this group. They’re battling and grinding out results against tough teams. Their 0-0 draw against NYCFC on Aug. 4 even looks better now, with NYCFC currently occupying second place in the east.
So what (or who) has been working?
I think the true introduction of Carlos Terán and the re-introduction of Luka Stojanović are probably the most visible answers. After battling the injury bug for almost the entire first half of the season, Terán - the 20-year-old defender from Envigado - has been an immense addition to the backline. He brings a difficult-to-miss physical presence. The youngster stands at 6’4 and loves to get stuck in. You saw it on Sunday night against Columbus. The dude was matched up against an MLS-proven vet in Gyasi Zardes, went toe-to-toe with the U.S. international and - dare I say - got the better of him. This was the encore after locking down Fabió of the New York Red Bulls in the match prior. Terán has a solid amount of pace to go along with his size, which makes him a difficult proposition to deal with. More than anything, though, he plays within himself and isn’t afraid to be direct and turn defenders when being pressed. This is something that Raphael Wicky continues to preach to his backline, and Terán has obliged. Yes, we all want to see beautiful, combination play but sometimes that’s not what the game asks of you. Terán is very good at recognizing those moments. Oh, his long throw-in is a pretty good weapon, as well, despite what my colleague Tony Meola thinks.
Stojanović is one of our other (very obvious) reasons for two wins in a row. He has scored three goals in the last two games, and is fully back in the first XI after spending five games away from the starting lineup. After the switch to the three-back system against Philly, Luka had a combined 45 minutes of playing time. He isn’t the fastest player around and doesn’t do a tremendous amount of defending, but he has a skill that really can’t be taught. It’s something buried deep within his genetic makeup: He is a goal scorer. He simply finds himself in the right place at the right time and strikes an incredible ball (i.e. his first goal against the Red Bulls). Luka’s ability to keep the play moving and finish off moves as a No. 10 has been glaringly apparent in his rebirth over the past two games, and he is cementing himself as a regular starter once again.
Some not-so-obvious or maybe even overlooked pieces that have been shaping out this run of form are guys like Fabian Herbers. The German always does the running, and - with Luka playing in a more advanced role and Gastón Gimenéz tasked with setting the tempo - Fabi is the piano lifter. He’s been amazing as evidenced by his Heineken Man of the Match nod in Sunday’s 1-0 win. It’s a next-man-up mentality right now, and Fabi has answered the call and then some.
Chinonso Offor is another guy whose work rate and pace have been creating chances and space for his teammates. He may only have one goal and one assist this year as a striker, but his pursuit of the ball alone makes defenders think twice. He is ridiculously strong on the ball and is growing by the minute. He is still prone to mistakes at 21 years old, but his upside is tremendous and he has now started four games in a row. His hold-up play and enthusiasm have been contagious from my vantage point in the booth.
Mauricio Pineda continues to be a stalwart and consistent performer. I think there is a real argument to be made that he’s the MVP of the Chicago Fire in 2021. At 23 years old and in just his second season in MLS, he plays well beyond his years. His football IQ is on display almost every week, and he’s an anchor in the back-three. We’ve seen a number of crucial interceptions and challenges from Pineda the last couple of weeks that have saved goals or prevented clear-cut chances. The Bolingbrook boy is technical, savvy and just quick enough to cut off attackers in big moments. The compliment he and Terán offer each other is coming off in Fire-colored spades.
Last, but not least, I attribute the goal against Columbus to Homegrown product Brian Gutierrez. The 18-year-old Burbank native came on and was positive from his first touch. He wanted to get forward and provide that little bit of extra quality in the final third. His little combination play into the penalty area and deflected shot may have found the foot of Luka for the goal, but make no mistake, Guti was the architect of that play and was hell-bent on making a difference. That sort of impact from a substitute is invaluable, and it’s the type of performance that can get teams three points instead of one.
This season is far from over and there is still a ton of work to be done for Chicago. There will be more lows this campaign but hopefully they will be outweighed by the highs that remain. How far it will take them or how long it will last is still to be determined, but this group is clicking more than we’ve seen since Raphael Wicky took over, and it’s got me on the edge of my seat every time Tony and I throw on the headset.
