Troy Lesesne believes D.C. United must continue to develop their in-possession play if they are to become an elite outfit in MLS, ahead of Saturday’s visit to the Chicago Fire.
D.C. started their 2025 campaign with a 2-2 draw versus Toronto FC last week, having just missed out on the playoffs on goal difference last season.
Lesesne believes D.C.’s high-pressing style has come along nicely, but he now wants to see improvements when they are faced with packed defences.
“I think the foundation we talked about last year, that we laid, I think we’ve built off that in terms of our off-the-ball behaviour, it was really solid,” Lesesne said.
“We really disrupted Toronto whenever we were in set positions and we made it difficult for them in the build-up, we created a goal off our counter-pressing behaviour.
“On the ball, that’s still very much in development, we gave the ball away far too often and where Toronto’s chances came were on attacking transitions for them.
“We’re going to keep trying to make progress in that area because I know that in the long run, it’s going to benefit the team.”
Chicago were beaten 4-2 by the Columbus Crew in their first league game under Gregg Berhalter last week, leaving them bottom of the Eastern Conference standings after one game – in the same position where they finished last season.
“A lot can be improved, but I think again, the effort, the mindset of the guys was good. But we have to threaten the backline more,” Berhalter said.
“I want to see some of that. Defensively, the chances we gave up… we need to take a look at that. We’ll keep working.
“The goal was to keep making progress and I think the team has made progress throughout this preseason. We’ll continue to build.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chicago Fire – Brian Gutierrez
Gutierrez scored both of the Fire’s goals against Columbus last Saturday, the second straight season in which he has netted the first goal of the year for the Fire.
He is just the second player in club history to score the team’s opening goal in consecutive seasons after Robert Beric in 2020 and 2021.
D.C. United – Christian Benteke
Benteke scored D.C. United’s second goal against Toronto last week via a header.
That was his 13th headed goal in regular-season MLS play overall, more than any other player since he debuted in the league in September 2022.
MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW
D.C. United won five of their final six regular-season away matches in 2024 (L1), including a 2-1 victory at Chicago on September 7.
This is the first time D.C. have ever won five times in a span of six away matches in the post-shootout era (since 2000).
Meanwhile, the Fire’s 4-2 loss to the Crew extended their MLS-record winless streak in season-opening matches to 16 straight, dating back to 2010.
They have won one of their first two matches of a season only once since 2013, posting a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake in their second match of the 2017 campaign.
D.C. have not won consecutive away matches against the Fire in all competitions since a three-match run from 2008 to 2009, and this match appears evenly matched.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Chicago Fire – 35.3%
D.C. United – 38.7%
Draw – 26%
