Free-scoring Haile-Selassie enjoying life as second striker

The Chicago Fire have finally found their goal-scoring rhythm, and in Wednesday’s win over the Philadelphia Union, no player had a bigger role than Maren Haile-Selassie.

The 25-year-old scored the game’s opening goal but was then involved in all three of his team’s second-half goals as the Fire turned an 82nd-minute 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 victory. Haile-Selassie had the assist on Hugo Cuypers’ game-winner in the 92nd minute and was also credited with a secondary assist.

Haile-Selassie’s goal brought his total for the season to within one of his club-high tally from last season. As it was his fourth successive game with a goal, it also brings him within one of the club-record five straight scoring games. He’s done all this while playing as a second striker, a previously unfamiliar position he had to learn mid-season.

“If you want to be a good player, you need to play well in different positions,” Haile-Selassie told MIR97 Media. “That's what I try to do everywhere the coach puts me; I want to perform, and lately it's been on the striker position.”

“It's been a couple of games now, so I've already adjusted. As a team, I think we are adjusting to the system better every game. I feel very good in that position.”

That system change – to a fluid 3-5-2 formation – was originally brought about in light of Xherdan Shaqiri’s early departure for the European Championships. The captain and Designated Player has played almost exclusively as a #10 in a 4-2-3-1 formation since he joined the Fire, but his absence has prompted the system switch.

When Shaqiri left for the Euros, the Fire were in the midst of a nine-match winless run and had lost four straight. But from the moment he left, they embarked on a four-game unbeaten streak, and have lost just twice in seven matches.

It’s somewhat remarkable that the team’s performance significantly improved when its highest-paid player was absent, so the Fire will face a headache should he return to Chicago following Switzerland’s quarterfinal elimination on penalties to England.

The Swiss attacker who wasn’t at the Euros, however, has been one of the main beneficiaries of the new system and is gaining more confidence after every goal he notches. His coach is very happy with how he’s adjusted to the new role and the impact he’s had there.

“When we moved Maren to that position, we said we need more runs behind the back line,” Klopas said. “Especially when the team like that plays a high back line, Maren can do that, he has good pace. It's great to have those two guys, but we need to get the other forwards also.”

In the second half of Wednesday’s win, Klopas reverted to a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 shape. Philadelphia has just jumped out to a 3-1 lead, and an adjustment was needed mid-game to stay alive. Several players changed their positions, with Haile-Selassie in a role somewhat resembling a left winger while attacking midfielder Fabian Herbers was asked to play an unfamiliar right back role.

The gamble worked; Haile-Selassie and Cuypers stayed on the field to fight until the end, and both were heavily involved in completing an unlikely turnaround. It was a late reversal that showed the mentality of the core group, and the commitment of important players to stay alive in the playoff race even when they’re in a bleak standing past the season’s midway point.

“It shows to the coach that you can trust the players,” Haile-Selassie said after the win. “Wherever he puts us in, we're just trying to give the best to the team. He knows that we're versatile players and we just give everything for the team wherever that is.”

Now, despite not being a natural center forward, he has the chance to make history against San Jose Earthquakes tomorrow. A goal will put him alongside Robert Berić and David Accam as the only Fire players to ever score in five-straight. And in spite of that possible distinction, a win is still his primary motivation.

“That’s the most important for me. Whether that's by assists, goals, dribbling, or creating chances, I just try to help the team to win.”