BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – The Chicago Fire will probably have to hold out another week without half of their expected starting defense.
Logan Pause (above, left) and Arne Friedrich (above, center) missed Sunday's 4-0 loss to the LA Galaxy with quad and hamstring injuries, and neither participated in full training this week. The veteran leaders are both doubtful for Saturday's home opener against New England (7:30 pm ET, NBCSN).
“It's a long shot,” Pause told MLSsoccer.com. “I wouldn't count it out, but it's probably a deep long shot.”
MLS Match Recap: LA Galaxy 4, Chicago Fire 0
Pause practiced all last week, but he aggravated a minor injury from preseason and was a late scratch for Sunday's game. Friedrich's injury wasn't expected to rule him out of Sunday's opener either, but the hamstring that bothered him last season is once again causing him to miss games.
Both are considered day to day and could return for next week's game against Kansas City. Steven Kinney is once again expected to slide into Friedrich's center back spot after returning from a two-year absence on Sunday. Jalil Anibaba will man the right back spot, which may go to Pause once the Fire captain is healthy.
“I was very happy with Steven, after his absence of over two years, to come back and rebound and come into the game,” Klopas said. “I think that's a positive, because all of the games that these guys play, and the experience that they can get is going to help us throughout the season.”
