Chicago Fire Notebook: Maren Haile-Selassie, Frank Klopas on Crew, and More

Maren Haile-Selassie is back in Chicago for his second MLS season after the Fire exercised their purchase option on the Swiss winger’s contract in the offseason, acquiring him permanently from FC Lugano in Switzerland.

Last week, Fire head coach Frank Klopas said that Haile-Selassie has the ability to score double-digit goals in MLS. While his winger hasn’t scored in the Fire’s first two matches of the season, he played the full 90 in each while creating a constant threat down the right side in Chicago’s draw against Philadelphia. Despite only securing one point from the first two matches, Haile-Selassie says the onus is on Chicago to show everyone they can compete against a tough Columbus Crew side on the road in Ohio.

"They're the defending champions, so I think right now they're maybe the best team in the league, especially at home,” said Haile-Selassie during the Fire’s weekly media availability. “It's going to be an interesting challenge for us.

“While they have a great team, I think we have a great team this season, as well, and it's on us to show that we can compete with them. Against good teams, in the past we did pretty well, so it's going to be an exciting game.”

It’s going to take top-tier soccer for the Fire to even get a point against the reigning MLS Cup Champions in Columbus. That task requires more than just on-pitch chemistry for Chicago. Haile-Selassie was reunited with former Lugano running mate Allan Arigoni on the Fire in 2024 and the two have had to quickly reconnect alongside the right side for Chicago. Haile-Selassie says the long-term connection with Arigoni and club captain Xherdan Shaqiri is going to help the Fire this year.

“We played for half the year together in Lugano. Obviously, there we were building a relationship on the pitch and outside the pitch, as well. Before that, I played a couple times against him, so I knew him even before that.

“Now, yeah, I think if you have in general a good chemistry outside the pitch, I think it affects the work on the pitch, as well. Right now we're feeling very good. Also when [Xherdan Shaqiri] is coming on the right side, I think we have a good connection over there, as well.

“I think it's just going to be better and better. Every training session, every game is going to help us to build even a better relationship. Obviously the goal is that it helps the team in the end that we're going to be successful, but I think so far [Arigoni]'s feeling comfortable on the pitch, and that's the most important thing. “

Arigoni credited his former Lugano teammate with helping sell him on coming to Chicago in the offseason. Haile-Selassie says he was simply honest when Arigoni inquired with him about a potential move.

“The club had interest in him first. Then the interest had to be from both sides, so he was open to that, and he obviously asked me about everything, about the Club, the league, the city, the team, and I just told him from my experience, which was really good. My experience was good. I had a good year all around. In the team we have pretty good chemistry, good training staff. The league is intense and obviously growing. He knew that, as well.

“The city, he didn't know the city so good, so I explained to him that he's going to like the summer a little more than the winter. So far, he had a good impression. We've been out a couple times, so I think he's feeling really comfortable, and [the] most important thing is obviously on the pitch, that he's helping us.”

Frank Klopas on Columbus Crew

The Fire haven't beaten the Crew in five matches and have only taken a single point from their Eastern Conference rivals going back to Aug. 16, 2021. Columbus has been a top team in the league for the last few years and Klopas likes that his side is going up against tough competition early in the season.

“It's good to play, I think, the top teams early on and really to gain experience and to test ourselves,” Klopas said during his weekly media availability. “For me, I think that their two holding midfielders are really good in possession. They make it difficult, really, to put pressure on them, so you have to be really organized as a team.”

Klopas on Tobias Salquist

The Fire’s offseason acquisition at center back has yet to make his debut with the club after being an unused substitute against Cincinnati. Klopas says that Salquist has played in a closed-door scrimmage and is progressing to a point where he will play in MLS.

“It's a new league. It takes time for him to adjust. It's a lot of new players. He missed a lot of training early on. He's an experienced player.

“I think with anyone you bring in, it doesn't matter, there's going to be an adjustment period that's necessary. He's working hard. He's looking sharper…He's working hard just to get to the level where he was when he was in Europe.”

Referee Update

ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle reported on Wednesday that negotiations with the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) and the Professional Referees Organization (PRO) have made very little progress. So it’s looking like another week of replacement referees in Major League Soccer.

GK University?

Another goalkeeper in the Chicago Fire organization has received a national team call-up. Fire Academy product Patrick Los will be part of the upcoming USMNT U-17 camp, according to MenInRed97’s Alex Calabrese.

What’s On Tap Next?

The Fire travel to Ohio to face the Columbus Crew on March 9. The match kicks off at 6:30 p.m. CT and will air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+.