BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – The Chicago Fire may be off to their worst start in club history, but coach Frank Klopas isn't going anywhere. At least not for awhile.
President of soccer operations Javier Leon said Klopas' connection to his hometown and to the club, where he played and was technical director before becoming head coach in 2011, makes him indispensable.
“I strongly believe in having a coach -- and I think the ownership feels that way too -- that has so much invested in the city,” Leon said. “Believe me, nobody feels worse than Frank in terms of the results thus far. He has so much invested in the city, and he has so much invested in the team, being part of the team, having the history that he had. From that standpoint, clearly he's focused on making the right adjustments in order to get us on the right path.”
READ: Friedrich cautiously returns to training
Klopas moved from the front office to take over as head coach in 2011 when the team had one win in the first 11 games under coach Carlos de los Cobos. He turned the team around, and the club finished one win away from making the playoffs. Leon said he believes Klopas can do the same this season.
He also believes the current roster is good enough to make the playoffs.
“We feel very good about the roster,” he said. “We're four games into the season. We're not going sort of crazy thinking, 'Oh my God, we have to make changes.'”
READ: Nyarko most fouled in MLS play
Leon said the club may make moves before the transfer window closes on May 6, but he said those moves wouldn't be in reaction to the team's slow start.
“We're operating on the basis that this team is going to improve,” Leon said. “We're always looking to improve the team. We're not doing it out of desperation. I think that's the main point. We're not going to make a move that you would turn around and say, 'Why?' But if the right opportunity comes about, we'll certainly take advantage of it.”
