GM Nelson Rodríguez hosts media roundtable.
Posted by Chicago Fire on Tuesday, May 23, 2017
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – General manager Nelson Rodriguez used words like “momentum,” “crackling” and “buzz” to describe the wave of optimism currently surrounding the rejuvenated Chicago Fire, but he knows only silverware will convince the small band of “wallowers” that this season’s expensively assembled side is the real deal.
In a Tuesday hour-long roundtable with the media, Rodriguez spoke at length and with typical assuredness of the progress the Fire had made, and insisted that “while we’re pleased, we are not satisfied” with things thus far. The Men in Red, who were coming off last-place finishes in the previous two seasons, sit second in the Eastern Conference with a 6-3-3 record on the back of three impressive victories, scoring eight goals and entertaining with a cohesive, attack-minded brand of soccer not seen since the days of Cuauhtemoc Blanco.
“I do think there is momentum,” Rodriguez said when asked if he had noticed a shift in public sentiment. “I think that the environment for the Seattle game [sell-out crowd of 20,153 on May 13] was crackling. Garth Lagerwey, who has Chicago roots and is the president of soccer and general manager with the Sounders, texted me during the game and said ‘Boy, this is the best environment that I can remember since the Conference playoff in 2009.’ I also think that our game against Colorado, though midweek [May 17], was a good crowd for us and had a good atmosphere to it and there’s certainly a buzz.”
However, Rodriguez remains acutely aware that there are sections of the fanbase that are yet to be convinced by the current incarnation of the club they love following several false dawns in recent years. The Fire have played just one playoff game in seven years and Rodriguez acknowledges only success will remove the natural skepticism fostered by the frustration of 10 trophy-less years, their last coming with their fourth U.S. Open Cup victory in 2006.
“There is also still that small but loud group of wallowers,” he added, “who are just hoping that the wheels come off, or still want different players than the ones we’ve acquired, and that’ll still be there perhaps until we win a championship. But overall I think there is an excitement that’s building.”
To that end, Rodriguez insisted the club is firmly focused on the making the playoffs for the first time since 2012 and on the Open Cup, the quest for which begins on the road against the Saint Louis FC or Michigan Bucks on June 14. He also revealed that “there is still an opportunity to add to the roster” and that there is roster space and allocation money to do so.
Rodriguez, who still commutes to Chicago from his family home in New Jersey, also acknowledged the importance of a competitive and successful team in the country’s third largest city for the overall health and vibrancy of the league.
“I think for all of our sake it’s really important,” he urged. “There is something about big-market success that I think helps all leagues. On the one hand, they can be seen as villains, and I think this idea of heroes and villains is very important in sport, and so if we’re great and more people hate us, that’s a good thing. It’s driving awareness, attention, energy, passion – as long as it’s channeled properly – and if we could ever become a great team again I think that’s super, too. There’s plenty of room on the bandwagon for people to join in on.”
