In-form Carlos Terán hoping to energize Fire

15 games into the Major League Soccer season, the Chicago Fire find themselves in a familiar position: struggling to consistently put the ball in the net and well below the playoff line in the midst of an eight-game winless run. A bright spot of this miserable start, however, has been 23-year-old Colombian center back Carlos Terán, who has emerged as the team’s most essential defender in the last few weeks.

Terán is midway through his fourth full season with the Fire after joining from Envigado in the summer of 2020, and since he arrived as a 19-year-old, injuries have consistently hampered his growth and impact. Nonetheless, when he has been healthy for an extended period of time, his defensive quality and physical prowess have carried him well in MLS.

Even after scoring his first goal of 2024 against Columbus two matchweeks ago – a mere consolation in the Fire’s crushing 3-1 home defeat – Terán’s man of the match performance against D.C. United on Saturday best demonstrated his abilities. In-form Golden Boot contender Christian Benteke was lining up on the other side, but as part of a back three alongside Rafa Czichos and Mauricio Pineda, the ex-Aston Villa and Liverpool center forward was kept quiet. Terán relentlessly marked the Belgian, who was rendered near anonymous throughout the 90 minutes by the final whistle. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, ending a four-game losing run.

“It brings confidence not only for me but also for the team,” Terán told MIR97 Media on Tuesday. “The team is not content with the point because he want to win every day; we need to fight and we need to win.”

The Fire will certainly need to build on that confidence to get their season back on track. They’ve failed to win any of their last five at home and haven’t managed to score more than once in a game since April 6th. Even during his team’s frustrating run, Terán has consistently put in the work, such as in the 1-0 loss to Charlotte, where he had a solid defensive shift and nearly scored a late goal, but the mostly coherent effort at the back was undone by a second half Ashley Westwood free kick.

Results like that, particularly at home, aren’t what the Fire need right now. Every season since 2018, the Fire have sat below the playoff line entering the summer, and each time, they’ve failed to make the playoffs. 2024 is no different, as nearly halfway through the regular season, the Fire have just two wins and are only one position above MLS’ basement. Terán’s exuberant energy and mentality are motivating his current run of individual form, one that, if it can rub off on more of his teammates, will help to turn the ship around.

“The season is over when we play our last game,” Terán said. “In soccer, everything is possible. I’m positive always. I’m working for our objectives, for the city, for the Chicago Fire. This is a good family. We can fight again, but I know it’s not easy what we’re working for.”

The Fire have certainly benefited from Terán’s return to the lineup in recent months following the injury to new defensive signing Tobias Salquist in April, but entering the season, it wasn’t entirely clear if he’d still be with the team in 2024. The Colombian had already spent three-and-a-half years with the Fire, a team he joined partially with the motivation of using it as a bridge to a future European move. He was linked with clubs across the pond last January, and his name will likely circulate in transfer discussions again soon.

Though he’s happy with life in Chicago, Terán has not given up on the European dream, and at still just 23, it’s hard to imagine that it isn’t something that could become a reality in the near future.

“I love Chicago, but I also have a dream,” said Terán. “On my journey I want to play in Europe. But for now, my mind is here, my objective is in Chicago. I’m very happy now. With the team, with the city… I enjoy every moment of my time here."

"I have my dream but it’s not important today. What’s more important today is the game tomorrow.”

The Chicago Fire will host Orlando City on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Soldier Field.