End of season round table points to the future.
BRIDGEVIEW, IL—The 2019 soccer season has since passed with the Chicago Fire left out of the playoffs once again. But for the club, there’s changes and a lot of things to look forward with a better view heading into 2020.
President and General Manager Nelson Rodriguez sat down with the media with his third roundtable this season with a look back and strategic ideas from formulating a better team, going back to Soldier Field, and playing in front of more fans for next year.
“Last Tuesday, was a very special day for the Fire,” Rodriguez said. “With past and present players, loyal supporters, great fans, dedicated partners, (Chicago) Mayor (Lori Lightfoot) all in the celebration of our return back to Soldier Field. When I reflect on that moment, I emphasize that all of us have the success of the future. The positive feeling in this club unconditionally with spirit with the rest of our city, MLS, and the greater futbol world. That feeling, that energy, that faith, that optimism is that mission of missing the playoff that more painful.”
As for the season of not reaching the MLS playoffs, Chicago was in reach of getting there and missed out by a close margin of playing in the postseason.
“It was there for us, we had all that we needed, but we couldn’t do it,” Rodriguez said. “I spent the last week collecting my thoughts. I had to rearrange my thinking, why didn’t we make the playoffs? I have to be honest, some of those lines are very clear. My analysis, our futbol wasn’t very good. We can at most times play with anyone. I think our talent level is there, national team players to veterans. Something in our environment is missing.”
A better way to take a look at the situation maybe a look at even Nelson Rodriguez with his own role with the club and running of it to a few other facets.
“I first looked at myself, what did I do to contribute to that environment?” Rodriguez said. “Or what didn’t I do to contribute to that environment? I finally put my finger on it and I wasn’t available enough. I needed too and I could’ve helped more. In learning that, I need to be more vigilant with the staff. First thing, we need to build out with our support staff with a person that will provide us with more support. It will be logical step in our evolution as a club and move on with the strategic plan that we presented to ownership back in March.”
As for putting blame on the table, it appears that a number of different areas need to get better from Rodriguez, to head coach Veljko Paunovic, to the players.
“I think everyone does. I owe it to myself to recognize the things we need to get better,” Rodriguez said. “In terms of Pauno and Andrew (Hauptman) contributing in some way. I was to put players in a position to succeed, but we didn’t. I think it’s a shared responsibility. I think we need to find a shared solution to improve it with the players.”
As for the fan base and the move from SeatGeek Stadium (formally Toyota Park) in Bridgeview to Soldier Field in Chicago, the expectations are to go from 12,500 to around 25,000.
“I think that’s the result over the last several years, because the team hasn’t won,” Rodriguez said. “We know the entire fan experience needs to increase and will with the development of different fan experiences. We’ll have ticket offers that will be different with tickets at $15 a game with a variety of plans. It also always come back to the performance of the team.”
Personal wise, with Bastian Schweinsteiger retiring and Nemanja Nikolic leaving, could there be an offseason move for some new players at a high level?
“With regards to signing a big-name player,” Rodriguez said, “We won’t sign a big-time player formally. It’s about the over all product and the way the team plays. We won’t make decisions all at one time. We will exercise our options. Veteran players I will give them some latitude to see if they want to leave or stay.”
Expectations will be at the highest regard for the Chicago Fire finding the quality type of players that can fit into what they have for now and what they can put on the field in 2020.
“I have a good idea with a number of our players that are starters or not,” Rodriguez said. “In an ideal world, we look at how they perform. We have other projects in mind or have other targets in mind if the timing isn’t right. We need to find players that are 28 to 29 years old. Those are the hardest to find. Ultimately, we need to find the other pieces to the roster to fill.”
For the Chicago Fire, the offseason will have a great importance with its move back into Chicago and competing at Soldier Field, selling tickets, and getting its product back on the winning track. It’s a vision that that has to be seen for 2020 and beyond.
