Chicago Fire FC entered last season with a new owner, new general manager, new coach, and 17 new players, and the team was as inconsistent as you might expect. The Fire showed flashes of brilliance, beating the Seattle Sounders twice, and leading the Eastern Conference in expected goals. But the team was undone by mental defensive errors, and poor finishing outside of star striker Robert Beric.
In 2021, that team remains largely in tact. Will the continuity pay off? Or will we see more of the same in Chicago?
Chicago Fire FC (2020 record: 5W-10L-8D, 11th in MLS Eastern Conference, missed playoffs)
Head Coach: Raphael Wicky (2nd season)
Key additions: Stanislav Ivanov, Chinonso Offor, Jhon Espinoza
Key losses: Djordje Mihailovic, CJ Sapong, Micheal Azira, Brandt Bronico, Jeremiah Gutjahr
Projected XI (4-2-3-1): Bobby Shuttleworth; Jonathan Bornstein, Francisco Calvo, Mauricio Pineda, Jhon Espinoza; Gaston Gimenez, Alvaro Medran; Igancio Aliseda, Luka Stojanovic, Przemyslaw Frankowski; Robert Beric
Best offseason move: Bulgarian winger Stanislav Ivanov was expected to make the biggest impact, giving the team needed offensive spark with the loss of Djordje Mihailovic.