In his very game with the Chicago Fire, former Bayern Munich and Manchester United man Bastian Schweinsteiger started, played all 90 minutes and earned the Man of the Match award in the Chicago Fire’s 2-2 draw with the Montreal Impact. The Captain of the German 2014 World Cup winners scored his first Major League Soccer goal just 17 minutes into his very first game.
“I think it was great. A debut with a goal is always something that we all dream of,” said Veljko Paunovic, Chicago Fire Head Coach of Schweinsteiger’s debut.
“You know, starting and opening the game how we did with his goal, I think it was an important thing for our team.”
After the game, Schweinsteiger rejected the “MLS is a retirement league” narrative when a reporter posed that query to him. The midfielder insists that he is not one to be classified in this category. Schweinsteiger is off to a great start, but both he and his coach admit that there is more room to grow in his new role.
He still has a higher ceiling to achieve in Chicago, and knows what he has to do to get there.
“I will definitely work on my fitness, to have more power and put more energy into the game. I’m actually satisfied, it was okay, but it can improve,” said Schweinsteiger.
“I think we can improve a little bit. We had a few good chances, actually. We had a few good passes, especially in the last part of the game. I think we need to finish a little bit better so it makes it easier for us to control the game a little bit more.”
Said Paunovic:
“Today he showed everything that he can do and I believe he can repeat and repeat and repeat in a game. What I would say we have to work on and that’s something obviously it’s something understandable that I saw during the game that he was adjusting to what was happening the teammates and to the opponent in his first game, and with his performance we can expect even more. So I was very happy with that but also aware that he needs time and you guys also saw that.
“The player with his class his adjustment to the league and only one game and four or five days in town was amazing. But now we build from here, it’s a very good starting point and build from here and give him everything he needs to lead the team.”
The next chance to improve and ascend comes Saturday, when the Fire host their regional rival, the Columbus Crew. Kickoff is at 1 pm at Toyota Park, where it will be $2 hot dog day.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times and NBC Chicago.com, contributes to Chicago Tribune.com, Bold, WGN CLTV and KOZN.
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