Chicago Fire: 5 takeaways from MLS Is Back Tournament

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REUNION, FLORIDA – JULY 23: Francisco Calvo #5 of Chicago Fire kneels with his arms raised before the start of the group B match against the Vancouver Whitecaps during the MLS Is Back Tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on July 23, 2020 in Reunion, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

2. Missing Kappelhof

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and that was certainly the case with Johan Kappelhof during these games. Unfortunately forced to miss the tournament due to family reasons, Kappelhof was unable to get into the bubble and help his team out. Chicago’s defense did not look the same without him.

They were leaky and lacked real composure at the back. Calvo, in particular, suffered without his center-back partner and the organisation failed completely at times with Kappelhof’s consistent communication and calmness.

With the club since 2016, Kappelhof has become the Fire’s most reliable player. Calm under pressure at the back, the Dutchman knows when to drop and when to slide into challenges. One of the league’s best defenders, he even made the All-Star team a few seasons ago. Some supporters had started to doubt his abilities before this campaign began, but the MLS Is Back Tournament showed just how important he is to the defensive set-up.

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