Schweinsteiger makes Chicago strong

Schweinsteiger is a new challenge for chicago football players. His new team is even table leader in the East.

From the very bottom to the top – such stories love the Americans. No wonder that Chicago Bastian Schweinsteiger is celebrating, because in the sports soap opera the football world champion plays the leading role. The ex-Bayern pro has made a top team from his new team, Chicago Fire. The last of the previous year’s tables has climbed to # 1 in the Eastern Conference of the Major League Soccer after 18 of 34 matchdays with 37 points.

The 32-year-old has so far contributed two goals and five templates. More important than his statistical values ​​are the leadership qualities that the midfield star has brought since his move from Manchester United to Chicago.

“He’s all we hoped for and more,” said Chicago coach Veljko Paunovic in an interview with “MLSsoccer.com”. “His attitude, his commitment and his desire to win, and to influence others with his experience, his ideas and his knowledge of the game, is incredible. We can be lucky enough to have a player like him with us ».

Since Schweinsteiger’s arrival in March, the football players from Illinois have booked ten victories, three draws and two defeats in the North American professional league. With their 4-0 win against Saturday’s Vancouver Whitecaps, Chicago have even secured their lead in the east. Now on Wednesday (local time) against the Portland Timbers to the west coast. Whether Schweinsteiger can run up is questionable – the Spielmacher has plagued itself since the last game with a hip injury.

Even off the field, Schweinsteiger has now arrived in his new home. Not only does he and his wife, the former tennis player Ana Ivanovic, often look at the games of other professional teams in Chicago. The couple is also trying to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the new home, and the social media will allow the rest of the world to share.

“I feel very comfortable here and it’s all right,” said Schweinsteiger in mid-June in the “Welt” -view. “The people of Chicago are also super nice, it’s a lot of fun. How long I will play in the MLS, I do not know. But definitely this year. ”

Currently, Chicago is far above its own expectations, which are called playoffs. In the MLS, the first six teams qualify in the east and in the west respectively for the end of the October knockout round. The first half of the season for Chicago could hardly have been better. According to the achievements so far, the team is all too confident, including the MLS Cup title.