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Gregg Berhalter has pledged to make the Chicago Fireplace’s supporters proud forward of taking the reins for the 2025 season, with Frank Klopas taking to the dugout for the final time towards Nashville SC this weekend.
Neither Chicago nor Nashville could make the playoffs on Determination Day, sitting fifteenth and thirteenth within the Jap Convention standings respectively.
Chicago are propping up the desk with simply 30 factors, and so they have reacted to their dismal marketing campaign by appointing former United States nationwide workforce coach Berhalter.
Forward of assuming a watching transient for the Fireplace’s last sport beneath interim boss Klopas, he wrote in an open letter to supporters: “As we flip the web page to this new chapter, I need to make one factor clear: we’re setting our sights on sustained success.
“We’ll create an identification on and off the sphere that you’ll be happy with and be certain that the Fireplace are aggressive yr in and yr out.
“My imaginative and prescient is easy: Construct one of many prime golf equipment in North America. We’ll give attention to constructing a squad that not solely competes at a excessive stage however performs in a means that makes you proud to see them put on our well-known purple.”
New period, new vitality. #cf97 pic.twitter.com/rZRcFE3B2t
— Chicago Fireplace FC (@ChicagoFire) October 17, 2024
Nashville are additionally set to enter their first offseason beneath new boss B.J. Callaghan, however he’s assured his workforce is not going to take their eye off the ball.
“Preparations for us have gone as regular, how we at all times put together for an opponent,” Callaghan stated.
“There’s additionally a stage of an analysis interval, we’re not competing for the playoffs anymore in order that’s clear however on the similar time it’s nonetheless a aggressive atmosphere.
“We’re doing nothing wanting nonetheless attempting to go and win the sport, that’s the intention, to go to Chicago and get three factors.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chicago Fireplace – Chris Brady
The 4 objectives Chicago conceded of their defeat at Charlotte FC final outing took them to 59 objectives allowed this season, second-most in a single season in membership historical past. The Fireplace allowed a club-record 61 objectives in the course of the 2018 marketing campaign.
If they’re to keep away from an undesirable piece of historical past, they might want a giant show from goalkeeper Brady.
Nashville SC – Hany Mukhtar
Mukhtar has been concerned in six objectives in his final six regular-season matches (three objectives, three assists). He had recorded simply 11 aim contributions in his first 25 league appearances in 2024.
MATCH PREDICTION – CHICAGO FIRE WIN
The Fireplace enter their last match of the season on 30 factors (seven wins, 9 attracts, 17 losses).
Chicago should earn at the least one level to keep away from equalling their lowest factors tally throughout a full season (excluding the shortened 2020 season) in membership historical past (30 in 2015).
They need to keep away from that undesirable slice of membership historical past, although. Nashville have misplaced 11 of their final 14 regular-season matches, together with the final three in a row. Additionally they have a minus-19 aim distinction after recording a constructive aim distinction of their first 4 MLS seasons.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Chicago Fireplace – 41.8%
Nashville SC – 31.5%
Draw – 26.7%
