'Probably five times better': coach gushes over Robert Lewandowski

The 38-year-old had already made his mark in the USA. Since joining on a free transfer in the summer, the veteran has posted seven goals and two assists in 13 competitive appearances.

That eye for goal has also left a big impression on his coach. "That desire to get the ball and then score it in that way. There are not many strikers in this league who can score a goal like that," Berhalter explained.

What does Gregg Berhalter particularly praise about Robert Lewandowski?

Beyond the numbers, Chicago's coach has mainly highlighted the new signing's character and his influence on the dressing-room hierarchy. The former Bayern Munich player has, by all accounts, quickly changed the structure in Illinois and raised standards across the board.

"Communication in the team is probably five times better since Robert arrived, and that is a key part of his role. He shows that he wants to win, you can see how important that is to him," Berhalter continued. To push Lewandowski's output even higher, though, the coach has also called on the Pole's team-mates to play their part: "We simply have to work even better to get him into good positions."

Talk of a move to North America had already surfaced in the spring. In May, the striker then officially announced that he would not extend his expiring contract with Barcelona. Chicago Fire made their move at the end of June and signed the exceptional free agent from 1 July. Shortly before that, Lewandowski had lost to Sweden with the Poland national team in the World Cup play-offs.

Robert Lewandowski won a total of 14 league titles

By moving to the USA, the striker opened a new chapter in a remarkable career. In Germany, Spain and his native Poland, he won 14 league titles in total. He enjoyed the greatest success of his career in 2020, when he won the Champions League with Bayern Munich and completed the treble. He also set the benchmark internationally: with 167 caps and 89 goals, he is his country's undisputed record appearance-maker and record goalscorer.

Now in Chicago, Lewandowski is following in famous footsteps. At Fire, he is following Bastian Schweinsteiger. His former team-mate from their Munich days played for the MLS franchise from 2017 for almost three years before ending his playing career there in autumn 2019.