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There are things Raphael Wicky could have done better as the Fire coach, but he’s not the only person to be the cause of another lost season. Sporting director Georg Heitz takes his share of the responsibility for building an below average squad, and owner Joe Mansueto is responsible for the lack of time that forced Heitz to build the squad in a hurry two years ago. .
The players also contributed to Wicky’s downfall, which captain Francisco Calvo admitted after the Fire’s 3-1 loss to Toronto FC on Sunday. Calvo said it was difficult to lose a coach so close to the end of the season and the locker room was sad with Wicky’s departure. Calvo also said that the players wish Wicky the best, and he called him a great person and coach.
Sadly, the players’ apparent feelings for Wicky weren’t enough.
“Of course we have to take responsibility for that as well,” said Calvo, who made his first appearance with Fire since Aug. 21 after suffering a problem with his right thigh. “At the end of the day, sometimes the coach comes first, then the players. It’s hard work for them, but that’s how it is.
“[Soccer] that’s how it is, and of course we [didn’t] want him to leave, but we have to take our responsibilities because our performance during the year was not good enough.
Three days after Wicky’s sacking, the Fires continued to play the ropes in their 2021 season and gave up the last three goals of the game after taking a first-half lead. Team legend Frank Klopas leads the Fire while academy coach Ludovic Taillandier assists, with goalkeeper coach Adin Brown.
Obviously, the Fires didn’t expect to see themselves in this position, ending a lost year with an interim coach. But for a host of reasons, Wicky was unable to get the points to stay in the realistic playoff race and save his job, which he officially lost on Thursday.
“It’s always difficult when things change at the club,” said goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina. “Right now we have five games left so I think the focus is going to be on trying to finish the season the best we can and keep fighting and pushing every game and going out and giving it all. is difficult, but we do our best to try to focus on the games and give it our all.
Klopas – who is not a candidate for the permanent post – also praised Wicky, citing his work ethic and commitment to his job, also calling him a great human being. Still, football is a tough results-based business, and Wicky’s record over nearly two seasons was not good enough.
However, Wicky wasn’t the only reason the Fires returned home ahead of the playoffs for the fourth year in a row. The whole football side of the franchise has failed.
“You always look at the coach, but there is a responsibility on everyone,” Klopas said. “It’s not just about one person.”
REMARKS: Attacker Fabian herbaria was pulled out with a hamstring injury in the 21st minute and replaced by Ignacio Aliseda. Moments earlier, Herbers had help on that of Robert Béric Goal in the 16th minute that gave the Fire a 1-0 lead.
* The Fire also fired the performance director Ben Donachie. The team suffered a series of injuries during training camp and the first half of the season.
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