Gregg Berhalter believes the injuries that have depleted the Chicago Fire in the early portion of his reign are a result of work that will benefit them further down the line.
Chicago fought back to beat FC Dallas 3-1 last time out, having trailed 1-0 with eight minutes left to play.
That was their first victory under former United States coach Berhalter, who is without several players – including Kellyn Acosta and Romingue Kouame – due to injury.
“We need the guys to be able to adapt and that’s something where you know we want to play with this intensity,” Berhalter said.
“We want to play with this certain workload on and off the ball. It costs energy, and it’s a lot of distance for the guys and they now have to adapt to it.
“So you see some guys that are handling it well and some guys that are having difficulty with it.
“But we hope, over time, everyone is going to be handling it well and the team is going to be much better off.”
Chicago will attempt to build on that victory away to Toronto FC on Saturday, with the Reds having only taken one point from their first three games of the season.
This is the fourth time in the last five seasons that they have failed to win any of their first three matches to start a campaign, while their eight goals conceded ties their second-most after three matches of a season, having shipped nine in 2007.
But coach Robin Fraser remained positive after a 2-0 defeat at FC Cincinnati last week, saying: “There are positives I can take out of it.
“I think the feeling is that you want to win every game. If you lose one somewhere in the 34, you’re still bummed. It’s a new group to me and new coaching system to them, there are going to be growing pains.”
Heading north of the border #cf97 pic.twitter.com/HeJkvZ0MCD
— Chicago Fire FC (@ChicagoFire) March 13, 2025
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Toronto FC – Federico Bernardeschi
Toronto only created chances worth 0.25 expected goals (xG) in last week’s defeat to Cincinnati.
Only the New England Revolution (1.12), Portland Timbers (1.83) and Houston Dynamo (2.23) have created a lower xG tally than Toronto’s 2.55 this campaign, so they will hope Bernardeschi can step up and lead their attack this week.
Chicago Fire – Hugo Cuypers
Cuypers had a goal and an assist in Chicago’s victory last week, having also scored a brace in their previous game – a 2-2 draw with D.C. United.
Only the Philadelphia Union’s Tai Baribo (six goals) has bettered Cuypers’ three goals in MLS this campaign.
MATCH PREDICTION – TORONTO FC WIN
The Fire are unbeaten in five straight meetings with Toronto (W3 D2), conceding only two total goals in those games.
The Reds had scored multiple goals in each of their previous 12 matches against the Fire before this run began.
Chicago also earned their first victory of 2025 on the road last time out, in their second away game. The Fire have won two of their first three away matches of a season only twice in club history – in 1999 (all three) and 2008.
This will be Toronto’s first home match of the season. None of the last 29 home matches for Toronto in all competitions dating back to July 2023 have ended in a draw (W12 L17).
The Reds are under pressure after a poor start, but home advantage could be enough for them.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Toronto FC – 47%
Chicago Fire – 26.7%
Draw – 26.3%
