Although the Chicago Fire may not know when or where their next match will be played, the team is working to ensure that whatever comes next, they'll be ready for any challenge.
Head coach Raphael Wicky spoke with ChicagoFireFC.com on Tuesday as his squad entered its second week of training back in Chicago following their participation in the MLS is Back Tournament.
“It’s like a little bit of a preseason again," Wicky said. "Obviously we came back from Orlando, and we are working toward a date which is not 100 percent confirmed yet, but we are working toward a date when we think we might have a game. So that gives us a 3-4 week period in which we can keep working hard within the squad."
A bit of good news after the recent injuries to Luka Stojanović and Jeremiah Gutjahr, the Fire saw two key players return to the field this week in veterans Johan Kappelhof and Micheal Azira. The duo were sidelined for the MLS is Back Tournament recovering from quad and eye injuries, respectively.
“When we came back from Orlando they had to stay in a 10-day quarantine because they were not with us down there, so now since Monday they are back in team training," Wicky said. "Micheal Azira is in full team training, and Johan is coming slowly back – you have seen him as a neutral in certain game forms, so we will progress him back to full team training hopefully in the next couple of weeks.”
Also of note since the Fire returned from Florida was the team picking up Jonathan Bornstein's contract option for the 2021 season. Bornstein, 35, originally joined the Fire in July of 2019 and has made four starts for Chicago in 2020, tallying an equalizing goal in a 1-1 draw with the New England Revolution on March 7. Since beginning his professional career in 2006, Bornstein has made 319 professional appearances across all competitions in first division leagues in the United States, Mexico and Israel.
"[He's] very important," Wicky said. "Jonny is a very experienced guy who knows the league in and out, and has a lot of quality on the field and also off the field. He is a leader in our team and I am very happy we picked up his option."
