Chicago Fire 2023 MLS season preview: Tactics, predicted XI, predictions
By Chris Smith
The Chicago Fire head into the 2023 MLS season looking to end their long wait to reach the Playoffs.
Champions in 1998 and three-time MLS Cup finalists, the Fire haven't made the post-season in each of their last five attempts, while they've finished above the line in just two of the last 13 seasons.
It's been a winter of change with goalkeeping wonderkid Gabriel Slonina officially departing for Chelsea and Aston Villa spending big on young Colombian striker Jhon Duran. But Ezra Hendrickson showed promise during his first season as head coach and will hope to finally re-establish Chicago among the elite.
So, here's everything you need to know about the Chicago Fire ahead of the new MLS season, including tactics, key players, and predictions.
How did Chicago Fire perform in 2022?
- Regular season: 12th in Eastern Conference
- MLS Cup Playoffs: Didn't qualify
- US Open Cup: Third round
Chicago Fire transfer activity
Transfers in
Player | Former Club | Fee |
|---|---|---|
Arnaud Souquet | Montpellier | Free transfer |
Jeff Gal | Degerfors | Free transfer |
Jonathan Dean | Birmingham Legion | Undisclosed |
Maren Halle-Selassie | FC Lugano | Loan |
Transfers out
Player | Club Joined | Fee |
|---|---|---|
Jhon Duran | Aston Villa | $18m |
Jhon Espinoza | FC Lugano | Free transfer |
Stanislav Ivanov | Arda Kardzhali | Free transfer |
Jonathan Bornstein | CDS Vida | Free transfer |
Boris Sekulic | - | Released |
Andre Reynolds II | - | Released |
Gabriel Slonina | Chelsea | End of loan |
Ezra Hendrickson: Tactics and style of play
Lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, there really isn't too much intricacy with the way Hendrickson makes his teams play.
The man himself stated ahead of last season that the Fire would play possession soccer, though they ended up middling in terms of their possession share with an average of 49% per match.
Other than that, it was about defending in a mid-block and denying space, then getting the ball to their best players - Xherdan Shaqiri, Jhon Duran, Kacper Przybylko - as quickly as possible to make things happen.
With Duran gone, it remains to be seen just how effective their attack will be this time around.
Chicago Fire predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Brady; Souquet, Teran, Czichos, M. Navarro; F. Navarro, Gimenez; Torres, Shaqiri, Gutierrez; Przybylko.
Who is Chicago Fire's key player?
Xherdan Shaqiri
Shaqiri endured a couple of disruptions due to injury during his debut season, but still managed to show plenty of promise. Seven goals and six assists in 29 appearances is by no means a poor return.
However, more will be expected of the Switzerland international this time around, especially with so much firepower leaving in Duran.
Shaqiri will likely line up as a No.10, where he can use his skill and agility to evade defenders and feed Chicago's forwards. However, we all know how much he loves drifting wide, where he can go one-on-one and cut inside to get shots on goal.
Chicago Fire 2023 season prediction
Right now, it's really tough to predict how the Fire will look in 2023 with so much depending on how Duran is replaced and the form of whoever fills Slonina's boots - either Chris Brady or Jeff Gal.
Taking them at face value, Chicago have done little to improve and although you can probably expect some entertaining soccer given Hendrickson's style and the personnel at his disposal, don't expect much in terms of results.
Will Chicago Fire qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs? No