Chicago Fire's new management team exudes optimism

Monday was a day of good feelings all around at the PrivateBank Fire Pitch in Chicago. The first day of preseason training can be like that, and the Chicago Fire's new management exudes optimism and positivity.

"The guys did very, very well, and I'm very happy and excited in this new staff for us," first-year coach Veljko Paunovic said.

"I'm excited, ready to go, and it seems like everybody else is here as well, from the staff and the players as well," newly signed defender Michael Harrington said. "It's a fresh start for all of us, and I think we can bond together through that and put something together that will be very good here."

The Fire trained with 19 players, including the team's open-tryout winner, two players from St. Louis FC and one trialist.

New signee Joao Meira, a center back, is waiting on a visa. Sean Johnson, Matt Polster and top draft pick Brandon Vincent are in U.S. national team camp. Defender Eric Gehrig worked on the side as he recovers from the foot injury that ended his 2015 season early. Razvan Cocis and Kennedy Igboananike were being checked out by team doctors.

"Everything went good. Everyone was fit," Paunovic said. " … Now what we are teaching is our style of play from the global perspective and they have to be very focused and open to learn. They are doing very good and I am very happy with that."

The team leaves for Tampa on Sunday for the next stage of the preseason.

"Next week we will work to increase our form and fitness," Paunovic said.

Formation:

Paunovic said the club will start by working with a 4-2-3-1 formation.

"We want to have alternatives," he said. "In order to be adaptable, we have to work on alternative systems, too. But it's not the system. It's all about the players and the coaching."

Fire general manager Nelson Rodriguez agreed the formation isn't a big deal. The Fire will be flexible from game to game and even within each game depending on how it's going.

"The numerical arrangement on the field really exists for the 10 seconds involved with kickoff and then it completely changes anyway," he said.

European update:

Nelson Rodriguez said there wasn't much of an update on the European center backs the team hopes to sign and whom he declined to name.

"Really in the same spot as we were a week ago," he said. "Continuing to compete with interest from European teams and Champions League teams that are pursuing the same players as we are in two instances. In other instances we're drawing closer to making offers."

Medical update:

The Fire announced a new soccer operations staff Sunday, including assistant coaches Marko Mitrivic, Logan Pause and goalkeepers coach Aleksandar Saric.

But perhaps the most notable information in that news release was saved for the end: The team has a new athletic trainer and assistant trainer.

Some of last year's players expressed dissatisfaction with the medical treatment they received.

"I wasn't here," said Rodriguez, who joined the club in October. "I've heard about these things. What I know is we felt that our entrance physicals yesterday were very well organized, went extremely efficiently and there's a good vibe that we credit to the group that we've assembled and our attitude going forward more than we do just to being excited that it's Day 1."

The legend:

Logan Pause values his time last season in the Fire front office, but he's happy to be back on the field as an assistant coach.

Time spent as a team vice president, however, will help him in the long run.

"This last year just was incredibly valuable to see the 'back of the house,' " the former Fire midfielder and captain said. "One of the things I've learned is the incredible people that work within this club and work so incredibly hard, and of course seeing how ticket sales works and the structure of the academy and managing the budget.

"All of those things are important to have some knowledge, but at the end of the day it comes down to people. The year away outside of the soccer side was probably the best thing for me to step into this role."

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