New York Soccer Journal spoke with Joe Chatz of On Tap Sports Net to learn more about Chicago Fire FC, New York City's opponent at Yankee Stadium on Saturday night in the first home match since the World Cup. Here is your NYCFC vs Chicago Fire preview.
• League Form: L-W-W-W-L
• Record: 8W, 2D, 5L | 26 points, 3rd place in Eastern Conference
• Scoring Leader: Hugo Cuypers, 13 goals
• Assist Leader: Philip Zinckernagel, 6 assists
Hello Lewy, goodbye Cuypers
New York Soccer Journal: Chicago added Robert Lewandowski and sold star striker Hugo Cuypers to CF Monterrey in Liga MX for about $7.5 million. What are your thoughts on the acquisition of Lewandowski and the departure of Cuypers?
Joe Chatz: You’re adding an all-world striker who is turning 38 in August. There are obvious drawbacks when making that acquisition, but the Fire see Lewandowski as the type of talent that can push them from a playoff team to a serious contender. The move makes sense, but it will take time to get him on the same page as teammates.
In terms of Hugo Cuypers, the player did not want to be in Chicago after Lewandowski’s acquisition, or at least that was the case in the recent weeks. Chicago is taking a calculated risk in disposing of MLS’s Golden Boot leader for an aging striker, but there is optimism in the building that this will be the right call in the short and long term.
