Ahead of Saturday's home match, SportingKC.com caught up with FourFourTwo.com reporter and Chicago Fire broadcaster Paul Tenorio to preview #SKCvCHI. Live coverage of the match (7 p.m. CT) is available on FOX Sports KC+, FOX Sports GO, Sports Radio 810 WHB, and La Grande 1340 AM. Check out MatchDay Central for complete online coverage.
What were the expectations for Chicago heading into this season?
I think the expectations were certainly high - a playoff spot, at the very least - after the arrival of Dax McCarty, Juninho and Nikolic. This Fire team has struggled for so long, though, that there was definitely a heavy layer of cautious ... optimism might not be the right word, even. It was a believe it when I see it approach, but certainly the expectation was that this year's Fire team would be far better than the one fans had seen the previous two years.
What’s been the key to Chicago’s success this year? What’s been the impact of Schweinsteiger and Nikolic?
I think the key has been two big things: leadership and ability to possess. Last year's Fire team didn't have many players who wanted the ball or who could dictate the game. That is the strength of this year's team with Dax McCarty and Schweinsteiger setting the tempo. Dax's leadership, though, has been immense. He's the emotional heartbeat of this team, he sets the standard and holds everyone accountable. Even last week's loss at NYCFC showed what's missing when he's not there from a mental standpoint. That being said, the finishing of Nikolic has been absolutely huge and Schweinsteiger's passing and ability to raise the confidence and the level of the players around him has been huge. Don't discount the player who has probably been the best of any of them all season, though: David Accam. No one talks about him, but he's in the top 5 in the league in both goals and assists and he's the guy who every team has to gameplan for.
How do you see the midfield battle playing out on Saturday?
For me there are two big areas to watch: Dax vs. Benny Feilhaber and Michael de Leeuw vs. Ilie. Earlier this season, de Leeuw has done a fantastic job of pressuring the deep-lying No. 6s out of games, especially Osvaldo Alonso in a total destruction of Seattle. I would expect he's given similar responsibilities to try to prevent Ilie Sanchez from setting the tempo for SKC, as he has done so well this season. Similarly, I think the Fire back line probably likes its match-ups with the front three -- except on the left side with Brandon Vincent out -- and so Dax will likely be tasked with making sure Feilhaber doesn't have the room to create, forcing those three up front to make something for themselves.
Are you expecting many lineup changes from the Fire’s last match? Are there any injury concerns?
I would expect Dax to come back into the starting lineup. The question is whether the Fire play a more conservative 4-3-3 with Juninho remaining in midfield or go the 4-2-3-1 and leave Accam-de Leeuw-Alvarez in place under Nikolic. The big concern is at left back, where Brandon Vincent is out several weeks. Michael Harrington is likely in line to start and he has struggled much of this season, though his familiarity in Kansas City might be a plus.
What are a few things you’ll be watching for on Saturday night at Children’s Mercy Park?
Accam's impact on the game and Dax McCarty's leadership keeping this team mentally in the right place after a bad loss last week in New York. I'm looking forward to seeing whether the Fire have the right game plan to take Ilie out of the game, because he's such a talented piece for SKC. And then, of course, how does Sporting look without Dom Dwyer? Will Diego Rubio press too much to prove he's the guy? Or will he score a couple and validate the decision-making in the short-term?
