Fire "Focused and Confident" for Open Cup Test
Just over 24 hours out from the Chicago Fire’s U.S. Open Cup opener, excitement is building around the club. The Fire’s first team was not allowed to participate in the tournament in 2024, and is eager to become the first MLS club to win the competition five times.
Head Coach Gregg Berhalter and winger Maren Haile-Selassie spoke with MIR97 Media on Tuesday in anticipation of the Fire’s round of 32 clash with Detroit City FC. Plus, we have the latest details on the club's current goalkeeping predicament, and the rumored moves for a superstar Designated Player.
Midweek rotation? What to expect…
Traditionally, top flight clubs around the world tend to heavily rotate their lineups in the earlier rounds of cup competitions, particularly when facing lower league opposition. The Fire have been no different over the years, giving opportunities to fringe players against USL teams in the Open Cup. This year, however, Berhalter has indicated that it will be close to a full strength lineup.
“We’re trying to use this game to put a very strong team on the field,” Berhalter said. “We’re giving guys that think they should be starters the opportunity to show it on the field. We need depth and this is a great oppounirtiy to give some of these guys right on the cusp of the starting XI an opportunity.”
Five to six starters from last Saturday’s MLS game are expected to return to the team on Wednesday, including goalkeeper Chris Brady. The 21-year-old was sent off in the first half of the 0-0 draw with Orlando City and will be suspended for next week’s game against Atlanta, an occurrence which partially motivated this decision.
The all-American, all-homegrown trio of Brian Gutiérrez, Sergio Oregel, and Mauricio Pineda has emerged as Berhalter’s most used midfield, but all three are expected to get a rest against Detroit. The three others in the midfield contest, namely Kellyn Acosta, Djé D’Avilla, and Rominigue Kouamé are set to have an opportunity to showcase themselves.
Return of the emperor
Another player expected to get an opportunity to showcase himself is winger Maren Haile-Selassie, who’s still awaiting a first start in 2025 after playing a prominent role in the last two seasons. An unfortunate injury in preseason, combined with the star additions of Jonathan Bamba and Philip Zinckernagel in his position, has made it difficult to get substantive minutes.
“I’m an ambitious player and I want to play and help the team,” Haile-Selassie said. “Every day I’m working towards that. At the end of it, it’s the decision of the coach; I’m trying to make it hard for him. I know my qualities, and that’s something I want to work on.”
“These cup games are something I want to take advantage of. Go at it from the first minute with commitment, and I know I can decide the game and help our team make it to the next round.”
Haile-Selassie scored one of the Fire’s first goals of the 2023 Open Cup run, finding the net hardly 120 seconds into the round of 32 clash with St. Louis City. He has a good track record in cup competitions throughout his career including historically winning the 2022 Schweizer Cup with FC Lugano.
The Swiss winger says that intriguing matchups like these give him motivation, and knows the importance of this competition to the club.
“The coaches are emphasizing that we shouldn’t take this game lightly,” Haile-Selassie said. “I think we’re ready. These games are huge for those clubs to play against MLS teams. Every player can prove himself, show himself, and as a club they can make a statement.”
“You see this happening every year that there are some surprises. This year, we don’t want to be that team, but we’re focused and confident.”
Goalkeeper conundrum
The Fire entered the season with just two first team goalkeepers, the aforementioned Brady and third-year backup Jeff Gal. Brady’s suspension has no impact on Open Cup availability but will keep him out this weekend, so it initially appeared that the Fire would have to scramble to find a backup for the game against Atlanta.
Fire II starter Patrick Los declined to sign an MLS Next Pro contract before the season, and since he’s still officially an amateur player set to attend the Unviersity of Michigan in the fall, he’s ineligible for selection. Thus, on-loan third keeper Bryan Dowd – who has never appeared for the Fire at any level since he was drafted 6th overall in 2024 – is the only other possibility under contract with the club, and there are ways that he can be made available in time for Saturday.
In one scenario, Dowd would be moved out of “Slot 31” on the MLS roster and onto the official first team roster. Though the supplemental roster is currently full, forward David Poreba – who suffered an ACL injury during preseason – can be moved to the Season-Ending Injury list, vacating a roster slot.
Once Dowd takes his place on the supplemental roster, he will be eligible for a one-match recall to sit on the bench in Chicago, even outside the MLS transfer window. His loan at FC Tulsa will not be terminated, and he will be able to return to Oklahoma after the Fire’s game on Saturday.
Should the Fire be approved for an extreme hardship exception, they could be able to call up Dowd without making any changes to the roster, keeping him in Slot 31 and leaving Poreba on the supplemental roster.
Rumor mill spinning
It’s no secret that transfer rumors have been swirling like crazy in recent weeks, and the Chicago Fire has been near the center of it, even globally. MIR97 Media reported several weeks ago that the club was the frontrunner to sign 33-year-old Belgian star Kevin de Bruyne, and that remains the case as they are among the only teams willing to meet his $12 million per year salary demands. Yesterday, news broke that the Fire had acquired de Bruyne’s MLS discovery rights, clearing one of the main hurdles in what could be a long transfer process.
“It’s just a work in progress,” Berhalter said of the possibility of signing a big name Designated Player this summer. “These things take a bit of time but we’re continuing to work on all of our options. We know we want to bring in someone that can help the group and make an impact in the league.”
“We’re being patient. There’s a number of different profiles that fit that bill, and we’re working through that right now.”
Another one of those names could be legendary FC Bayern München forward Thomas Müller, who has been heavily linked with an MLS move by the German media. The 35-year-old reportedly rejected a move to FC Cincinnati and is contemplating retirement upon the conclusion of his Bayern deal in the summer, but if he does come to MLS, LAFC and Chicago appear to be two possible destinations. Tabloid SPORT-Bild reported that the Fire had an “outside chance” of signing Müller, and claimed that the club could deploy Bastian Schweinsteiger in a bid to convince him to join.
Berhalter said all those discussions in the media, both domestically and overseas, are not a distraction for him and his staff internally.
“We know from the inside what’s happening,” Berhalter said. “For us, it’s business as usual.”
