A look at Chicago Fire training Monday showed a sense urgency befitting a side that head coach Frank Yallop would describe after the fact as “desperate to win.”
Under a hot summer sun, goalkeepers Jon Busch and Sean Johnson aggressively barked orders to the defenders in front of them. Mike Magee yelled as his strike just missed the target. Jason Johnson expended so much energy during a one-on-one drill that he was left lying on the pitch as the next pair plays around him.
After an encouraging win over Western Conference power FC Dallas, the Fire came up empty in Portland Friday, fueling their desire to make this week's lengthy stay in Philadelphia one to remember. The Men In Red are set for two matches against the Union that could alter the narrative of the 2015 campaign: a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinal on Wednesday and a pivotal league match Sunday (6 p.m. CT, FOX Sports 1).
Yallop has a strong roster of candidates from which to choose his lineup Wednesday as the club attempts to reach a seventh U.S. Open Cup final. David Accam, who exited the Portland match just before halftime with hamstring tightness, showed promise in training in full Monday morning, as did Mike Magee as the striker looks to return to match action for the first time since July 15. After meeting his new club in Portland, striker Gilberto enjoyed his first training session at Toyota Park Monday and figures to be in the mix for both matches at PPL Park this week.
Yallop's back line, meanwhile, remains intact and has begun to find continuity with Joevin Jones, Jeff Larentowicz, Eric Gehrig and Lovel Palmer starting the past two games.
"The back four’s gelled pretty well,” Yallop said Monday via teleconference. “It’s been consistent. No one’s been in and out of the lineup. It looks more of a focused unit back there. [I’m] not chopping and changing quite a bit. I’ve been happy with the way we’ve gone about things.”
LISTEN: Frank Yallop on David Accam's Hamstring Tightness
He's got good reason to feel that way. In the last four matches combined (Open Cup included), the Fire have allowed just 10 shots on goal. And it’s been a total team effort, with Yallop lauding the work of Matt Polster and Razvan Cocis breaking up attacks in the midfield. Defensive depth will only get stronger when new signing Daneil Cyrus (who can play both center back and right back) arrives from Trinidad and Tobago.
On the flank, Shaun Maloney has settled into his two-way responsibilities on the left of the pitch. Per WhoScored.com, Maloney has a team-leading eight key passes in his three league matches since returning from injury to bring his season average to 3.1 per outing, good for second in Major League Soccer behind Real Salt Lake's Javier Morales.
Speaking Monday of his Scottish Designated Player, Yallop was asked about a recent offer for Maloney from English League Championship side Hull City.
“It wasn’t a significant offer,” Yallop said. “They were feeling the waters out. Shaun was passive on the whole thing. He said, ‘Look, I’m a Chicago Fire player. If someone comes in and you accept the offer, then I’ll talk to them. Other than that, I’m a Fire player.’
“He stuck to his word, and everything’s fine. It went and gone. The offer didn’t get increased, and the window closed for us. Shaun’s with us now, and that’s good for everybody.”
As of late, Yallop has spent less time on injury updates and more time addressing his team’s preparation for the upcoming matches. And although he makes sure not to overlook the game at hand, he pointed out that Wednesday’s semifinal isn’t the only thing on his mind right now. He wants to get out of this week with two wins in the City of Brotherly Love.
“I feel we’ve still got a chance of making the playoffs,” Yallop said. “We’ve got games in hand, [including on] Philadelphia. They’re obviously right down where we are. We’ve got to go on a run, but at some point, teams do. I feel that we’re still capable of doing that. It’s not just, ‘Let’s get to the Open Cup final and blow the league off.’ That’s not the game plan. We’re hoping to win on Wednesday and win on Sunday. I would think that Philadelphia are probably thinking, hoping the same.”
LISTEN: Frank Yallop on Matchups with Philadelphia
