On Friday, Chicago Fire FC Sporting Director Georg Heitz spoke with the media on this past season and the preparations during the offseason. Here are some key takeaways.
THE NEED FOR CONTINUITY: As of this reporting, 27 players are expected to be back with the club for 2021. That includes four players whose options were picked up by the club in forward Elliot Collier, midfielder Djordje Mihailović, defender Wyatt Omsberg and defender Nicholas Slonina. Mihailoivc is one of just three players who remain from the the 2018 roster along with Johan Kappelhof and Elliot Collier. Heitz mentioned that he wanted to establish some continuity after 18 new signings were made prior to the start of the season.
One thing that we absolutely will have a focus on is continuity, because it’s one thing that we think that (was lacking).” said Heitz. “Also due to what we did last winter, we had,I think until now,18 new signings since I have joined the club, which is too many. We cannot be successful with that. So,we think that we laid the foundation and we would really like to keep most of the players that we have this season. Of course,we will also try to strengthen the squad, the roster,by signing maybe two, three more players.”
THE NEW SIGNINGS WON’T BE DESIGNATED PLAYERS: There was the question if the Fire would buy down Ignacio Aliseda’s contract to get a new DP, but Heitz quickly threw cold water on that.
“As far as I see it until now,there is no way to buy him down, which is also not our intention because I think we shouldn’t discuss too much about DesignatedPlayer or not DesignatedPlayer. Weshould discuss about the whole roster, about the whole team, about the qualities that we have and we should not depend on one or two players. Obviously, every team has one or two or three outstanding players, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that this must be a Designated Player.”
Heitz did emphasize that he wants to make upgrades in attack and in defense, but also emphasize that he wants competition at all positions. Heitz also said that there are seven players “in the final stages” of obtaining green cards which would open up international roster spots like the one claimed by new signing Chinoso Offor arriving from Latvian first division side FK Rīgas Futbola Skola.
HE WANTS THE HOMEGROWNS TO GET PLAYING TIME: One solution not mentioned was forming a reserve side in the USL, but Heitz is looking for solutions to get the younger players some time. If the player was not named Djordje Mihailovic or Mauricio Pineda, you were one of five Homegrowns who played a combined 43 minutes on the pitch this season.
“They need minutes, they need to play. If they cannot play here,we will have to find solutions.Could be loans or probably would be loans, we’ll have to see it on an individual basis. I would really like to see them in thepreseason,and we are confident that all of them have the potential to play. Obviously, it’s not so easy to make them all play at the same time. But another thing that is clear to me is that our average age is still too high.We tried to work on that.Butwe will have part of the way to go there to get where we want to be.”
THE NEED TO IMPLEMENT A WINNING SPIRIT: As I said after Sunday’s match, the 2020 Chicago Fire FC squad was similar to the 2016 squad where they learned to be competitive, but did not learn how to win. Heitz wants to see more of a winning spirit in the team.
“We really lack a little bit, is winning spirit. I don’t know how many players have won trophies in this squad. But I would assume not too many and maybe we have to find ways to implement this winning spirit. Also,a bit more,maybe,self-confidencealso. I mean you cannot have a season without a road game win. This is impossible. And you cannot expect to be in a comfortable situation if you never win a game abroad(on the road).”
Georg Heitz will have a full offseason to build the roster this season as opposed to last when he didn’t officially start his post until December 20th. He also hopes that with 27 players coming back, there will be more seasoning with the squad and that would be buoyed if Luca Stojanovic and Kenneth Kronholm return from their season-ending injuries. What definitely needs to happen next season, is a return to winning.
NOT RETURNING: Midfielder Jeremiah Gutjahr and goalkeeper Connor Sparrow had their options declined by the club on Thursday. The former will now enter the Waiver Draft and the latter will be in the MLS Re-entry Draft. Both Micheal Azira and CJ Sapong are out of contract and are free agents. The club is still in discussions with midfielder Brandt Bronico.
