Chicago Fire Notebook: Chris Mueller on Attacking Struggles, Federico Navarro on Fatherhood, Frank Klopas, More

It’s been anything but a pleasant start to the 2024 season for the Chicago Fire.

The team’s play has been sub-par, to put it kindly, as Chicago is currently hovering three points above the New England Revolution at the bottom of the Eastern Conference table despite playing two more matches than the Revs. The Fire’s 13 goals have them tied for third-worst in Major League Soccer alongside FC Dallas.

Chris Mueller has finally worked his way back fully from last season’s hip injury and has started in each of his last eight appearances for the Fire. His side’s goal-scoring output has been dreadful of late (only two goals in their last seven matches) and he wants his side to have more than a couple of chances to score in their upcoming contests.

“I think there's a few things, but the one that sticks out to me most is getting the ball up high to guys in dangerous areas where they can actually do things and create more frequently throughout games,” said Mueller. “I don't think we're getting into good enough spots, enough. I think we're getting there time and time again. And I just think that a little bit more repetitions down there for the guys in the attack would definitely be beneficial.

“We need to play attacking football and keep the ball in their half, play that high press and win balls back in order to do that.”

The Fire have managed double-digit shots in their last six matches but those haven’t translated into clear-cut scoring opportunities. Mueller needs his side to be more clinical in order to get the results they so desperately need.

“It's difficult when you're relying on one or two chances a game in order to win you games. And sometimes you do have to do that. I'm not naive to the fact at all either that sometimes maybe a game is 1-0 or you put both chances away that you get and you win 2-1. But at the same time I think it's unrealistic to expect to score both chances, two out of two, chances in a game. I think that getting the ball in the dangerous attacking spots more frequently is definitely going to be something that will help us, no doubt.”

From the rest of my notebook:

Frank Klopas Wants Fire to Treat Season Like a Relegation Battle

The Fire haven’t been able to create anything of substance going forward in 2024 under head coach Frank Klopas. He says he’s been trying new things with his side in training but now has them treating each match as though they’re in a relegation battle.

“The thing is trying to simplify things in practice, and I think that's the most important thing, with teams going from a difficult moment,” said Klopas during his weekly media availability. “The mental state of the team is obviously down. I think that's expected when you don't get results, performances are not going your way for me. Like I said, I felt that the attitude of the players and what they put in the last game was very good. And we created our chances again.

“But I've looked at this week, and I think going forward what I told the players is we've tried to simplify things and be clear with one or two, three points. I think focusing on the next game, both with and without the ball. And I think our mentality at that point, every game, we have to try something different. We've tried some different ways of playing 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1, 3-4-3. But we have to at this point.

“And even though there's no relegation battle in this league, we have to approach every game right now like it's a relegation fight until we can get out of this situation we're in, and have the mentality that we're going to go in and leave everything on the field and have that kind of commitment by everyone.”

Teams that survive relegation battles play with a greater purpose than themselves. It remains to be seen if this Fire team is built as such.

Federico Navarro on Fatherhood

The start of the 2024 season has been a busy one for Federico Navarro.

After dealing with some injuries, he’s started three of the last four in Chicago’s midfield and is finally where he needs to be to play major minutes for his side.

“Physically I feel great, " Navarro told On Tap Sports Net through a translator. “I think the more you play, the better you are physically. That’s what we live for. So we have to continue to keep improving. Obviously the team has to improve a lot of things.”

Navarro has made 66 MLS appearances and 55 starts since joining the Fire in 2021 and subsequently signing an extension with Chicago in September 2022. While the team’s performance level has remained stagnant over that time, Navarro’s been able to grow as an individual and recently saw his family get bigger as well.

Navarro and his wife welcomed their son Genaro this year, and the Fire’s midfielder says this has changed everything for him.

“It’s incredible. I never imagined having this experience in my life. It’s the best and I think it’s going to be the best always for me and my wife. For me it’s number one. I’m very happy because now we get home and things are different.

“It changes your mind. It changes your day-to-day, we have other responsibilities that are lovely. So I’m very happy.”

It’s been a welcome change for Navarro and something he’s grateful he could do in a city he’s now called home for years. It’s also forced him to note how he can improve both on and off the pitch.

“Life makes you mature and I’ve had to be mature since I was little. I think I always had my head focused on this and I’ve always been focused on [soccer]. But now that I’m a dad everything changes. So now I have to keep maturing as a father. As a first-time dad, I think you reinvent yourself every day."

How Much for a Guti Rookie Card?!?!

Someone paid $510 on eBay for the 1/1 Brian Gutiérrez 2023 Topps Finest MLS Prized Footballer’s Superfractor on May 20. If you know who bought it, please reach out, I have some questions…

What’s On Tap Next?

The Fire face off against Christian Bentekee and D.C. United on Saturday. The match kicks off at 6:30 PM CT and will air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+.

Follow @soccer_ontap on X for more Chicago Fire news and updates!