Frank Klopas’ future as cloudy as the Fire’s
Frank Klopas didn’t want to talk about his future after the Fire’s 2-1 loss to FC Dallas on Wednesday night at Toyota Park.
The truth is there’s not much else to talk about, though the Fire’s interim coach/technical director tried.
“Listen guys, when I stepped in I said I believed in the group and I still do,” Klopas said in the postgame news conference. “For me more than anything we had 16-18 players from last year and it takes time — for people that have been in the game and been in the top teams in the world, it does take some time for players to jell. I think the late additions did help and there’s a good core there that you can build on.
“For me we’re going to wait till the end and see. There’s a time and a place for everything. Right now the time is for us to think about the next game (Saturday) in D.C., nothing else. My focus is going to be on that, preparing the team, getting the team ready to get a win.”
That sounds like Klopas already knows his future. It doesn’t sound good for him.
Yet you can make a case that Klopas should come back, at least as coach. After a bad start under coach Carlos de los Cobos and then after Klopas took over on Memorial Day, the Fire had a great August and September. The team just clearly ran out of steam Wednesday, ending what would have been a miracle run to the playoffs.
“Personally, and it goes for most of the guys, I think he’s come in and done a great job,” veteran Patrick Nyarko said in a somber locker room. “He’s almost turned it around when no one seemed to think the season was going to go anywhere. From his knowledge and stuff he’s brought and the changes he’s brought to the team in terms of game preparation I would absolutely vouch for him.
“I think he’s been absolutely great for us. I think one thing he’s done really well is incorporate everyone, every person in the team to make him feel important, make him feel a part of the team. Everyone has confidence and knows that they can step in any day and produce for the team. Yeah, personally, I’ll vouch for him to be back.”
The Fire (7-9-16, 37 points) still isn’t technically eliminated from the MLS playoffs, but reality has set in. For a second consecutive season and only the third time in club history, the Fire isn’t going to the playoffs. This team has no immediate future, and its long-term future remains in doubt as rumors that owner Andrew Hauptman wants to sell the club refuse to die.
So what about Klopas? Will he return as technical director? Will he be back as coach, the interim tag removed?
Maybe the better question is, if not Klopas, then who?
oschwarz@dailyherald.com
Follow Orrin Schwarz on Twitter @orrinsoccer.