Chicago Fire return to training Tuesday to prep for final stretch of regular season

Leave it to Fire forward Nemanja Nikolić to aptly sum up his squad's approach to their return to training on Tuesday afternoon at Toyota Park.

“I think it’s all about pride. In this moment, it’s all about that.

“It was good experience for us that we were a couple of days together to be part of such a great time for Basti’s last game at Bayern Munich," Nikolić continued. "We had some team-building there. We moved from Chicago and from the routine days. Now, we are back in business.”

After five days spent in Munich to take part in Bastian Schweinsteiger’s testimonial match last week, the players were given the holiday weekend to recover and reset ahead of preparations for a visit from Orlando City SC on Sunday, Sept. 16 (4 p.m. CT, FS1 | TICKETS). While 12 days still separate the Men In Red from that nationally-televised matchup, it’s no secret that time is a factor with just seven matches remaining on the MLS regular season calendar.

“The season isn’t over,” captain Dax McCarty said. “We’re not going to treat it like it’s over. We still have plenty to play for. That’s the belief in the locker room until we’re mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. There’s not one guy in that locker room that’s going to give up in terms of trying to make the playoffs, in terms of playing for pride, in terms of playing for the badge, the crest on the jersey, the tradition and the honor and the passion that this club has.”

“Every player feels that.”

The Fire took home a 2-1 victory from a visit to Orlando City SC back on May 26, and will hope get back in the win column when their Eastern Conference counterparts make the trip to Toyota Park on the 16th.

“There’s seven games left, so we’re going to approach every game like the coach says -- like a final -- and just try to turn this around,” midfielder Mo Adams said. “Everybody was motivated today. The energy and the intensity in the (training) session was very good, the mood. It’s a good feeling right now.”

The Fire spent Tuesday morning undertaking a fitness session that included passing and finishing drills as they ease their way back to match-sharpness.

“There’s no quit in this group,” McCarty added. “We’re going to keep going no matter how hard it may be, no matter how frustrating the season has been, we’re focusing on the next game and making sure that we go out and get three points against Orlando.”