Chicago Fire Limping into Red Bull Arena

The New York Red Bulls are trying to continue their winning ways in their season after a solid win last week at home against the Montreal Impact, but now they have a bit of a tougher task as the Chicago Fire are coming over and will try to steal points of any kind.

Last season the Chicago Fire came out guns a blazing and that was before they brought over the former German International Bastian Schweinstiger. Taking in players like Juninho, Dax McCarty and striker Nemanja Nikolic, this club came out of the gates ripped, roaring and ready to go.

But in 2018 they have come out slow from the gate with only one win in five matches played, their differential at a minus two, the Chicago Fire are reverting back to their old selves and at the moment it’s not pretty.

This will be considered a trap game, because no matter how good, bad, fantastic or ugly it’s going to be on game day, the Chicago Fire always play their best against the New York Red Bulls.

“I know that Chicago’s record is not the best, but I don’t believe it’s not representative on how good this team can be and the last thing we want is for them to come here and allow this game to be the catalyst for some hot streak for the rest of the season.” said Luis Robles.

“But with that being said we are very aware of their personal and some of their difference makers and there are a couple of new faces and new names that we have been able to watch on video and scout.

But we fully expect in this game and especially against Chicago & an in-conference opponent they will be up for the match and understand that we need to carry out our game plan for 90 minutes.”

Head Coach Jesse Marsch also knows that this Chicago Fire side can be very annoying as they always get up to play against the Red Bulls and have found ways in the past to take any form of points against them.

“They have given us a lot of good games and they have been explosive on the counter usually. I thought last years team was very good and the game we played against them in the playoffs, we played one of our best games of the year.” said Marsch.

“We managed that game, but at 2-0, Chicago pushed the game on us. It was very close, but there is a lot going on at that camp right now. There are things between coaches and players and different dialog, but that makes a team so dangerous and they want to prove a point this weekend.

So we’ve prepared for a few different things. They may look different in formations and personal, so it’s meant that we need to be a bit more creative on what their game plan is going to be, We need to adjust to what they will do on the field.”

The back line has been very strong for the Red Bulls this season and especially at home as they have only conceded twice against Club Tijuana in the Champions League and in their last home match against Montreal, that has to please both Robles and Jesse Marsch.

“I think everyone that’s been involved with the defense has been happy with the way things are going, but with that being said we fell like we are merely scratching the surface. We have a very high celling” Said Robles.

“We can be better. Set Pieces we need to solve, but in the run of play we have been very difficult to play against. The guys back there are competitive and very good, so with everything that’s happened so far there’s still within their nature that we can still be better.”

Chicago will be without Michael de Leeuw and Luis Solignac and of course the draft day trade with the Philadelphia Union that sent David Accam to the dark blue & Gold has given the Fire some issues on the attack.

Connor Lade is still in a boot and will be back before both Michael Murillo & Fidel Escobar will leave for Russia on National Team duty to the World Cup, but of course they will miss other guys during friendly games for the USA like Tyler Adams and possibly Aaron Long.

But as we start the watch for the century mark in league goals, the question had to be asked once again how amazing Bradley Wright-Phillips has been on the field and the players he had around him feeding the ball.

“He is on track to being the fastest player to get to 100 league goals, it’s not surprising first of all, but it’s nice to see the list you gave me & so many great names on there as well. If we go back there was a lot of talk when Thierry Henry left that Bradley was getting a lot of goals from Thierry.” said Marsch.

“Partly because Thierry said it and it wasn’t fair to his teammate. But Brad has shown plenty of quality and the thing about Brad is and I would argue as good as Thierry Henry was that he often made Thierry look good because he’s smart, moves well and was able to finish plays.

Now that’s a big statement but his ability to understand how to move off of good players and how to be available and his quality around the goal has meant that he can play with anybody and he can make me look good. He’s proven time and time again that he is a good player.”

So now we get ready for a big game this Saturday as once again these two sides will calsh and find a way to get points, for the Red Bulls they will once again try to best the Chicago Fire who are hungry and wants to knock them off their perch.