‘Absolute killer’ Lewandowski hugely invested in Chicago project

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Gregg Berhalter hailed Robert Lewandowski as an “absolute killer” after the veteran striker opened his MLS account in superb style.

Lewandowski marked his Chicago Fire home debut with a match-winning double in a 2-1 win over Charlotte FC at Soldier Field.

The Pole joined Chicago earlier this summer as a free agent, following his departure from Barcelona.

Lewandowski led the Fire for shots (four) and created two chances as they snapped a two-game losing run.

“That type of quality is hard to find,” said Chicago head coach Berhalter.

“When you look at the two goals he scored and some of the other plays he made in the game, it’s just very high quality.

“He’s dynamic, smart and clever. He sees the game and reads the game very well. Most importantly, in the box, he’s an absolute killer. This is hopefully the beginning of a lot of goals.”

Robert Lewandowski’s first MLS goal is a beauty! pic.twitter.com/b4ipzWZFcQ

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 2, 2026

Lewandowski’s arrival has not come without controversy, with Chicago having to cash in on Hugo Cuypers, who had scored 13 MLS goals this term.

Berhalter, though, says 37-year-old Lewandowski is already showing full commitment to Chicago’s long-term project.

“He’s invested in what’s going on here, and that’s the most important thing,” Berhalter said.

“He cares, and he shows he cares through his communication, his effort on the field and his effort in training.

“He’s a top-class professional, and I know how badly he wants to win. Part of that is him realising that this is a great opportunity for him, and he wants to take full advantage of it.”

For his part, Lewandowski is loving life in Chicago.

“I’m enjoying it a lot. I enjoy every day. The people are very kind – not only inside the locker room and the club, but also on the streets,” he said.

“I’m really impressed by the city in a positive way, especially now in the summer. We still have to work on a couple of things, of course, but we’re looking forward. 

“With a new team, you need a little bit more time to understand how your team-mates play.

“What kind of football they play, their positioning with and without the ball. It’s teamwork. Every day and every training session, I see more, and my team-mates also know me better.”

Chicago sit fourth in the Eastern Conference, though they are 11 points back from leaders Nashville SC.

“I think we have another gear, to be honest. I think we showed glimpses,” said Berhalter, whose team have scored in 14 straight MLS matches, which is the Fire’s longest such streak since a 16-game stretch during 2005.

“But there’s more to come. And as we get more comfortable with each other and what this new look is, I think we’re going to create even more chances.”

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