Xherdan Shaqiri has hit again towards critics who believe he's not fit sufficient to play in Major League Soccer.
The Switzerland global joined the Chicago Fire from Lyon in one of the maximum excessive-profile MLS transfers this wintry weather at a value of $7.5m.
Shaqiri's circulate changed into quite sudden given he'd best joined Lyon from Liverpool six months in advance. His manager in France, Peter Bosz, even accused him of not being within the quality form when he joined the Ligue 1 club.
Naturally, that has triggered a bit worry amongst Fire enthusiasts, however speaking to 90min on Wednesday, Shaqiri - who also counts the likes of Bayern Munich and Inter Milan amongst his former employers - moved fast to silence his critics.
"To be sincere, there has been best maybe one game I missed with Lyon this yr, so I became gambling since [the] summer season," Shaqiri said. "I'm suit. I was now not injured. My knees, they're top fit, they're correct.
"I can play many, many years on the pinnacle, and from this point, there are continually those who don't like you or critique you. But I don't listen to these men because I recognise what I can do. I understand what I can convey to this club, to this crew. I don't care clearly approximately the critics."
Now that he's here and ready to go, Shaqiri's cognizance is purely on assisting the Chicago Fire end up a a hit team once more. CF97 had been one of the giants of the league's early years, triumphing MLS Cup, Supporters' Shield, and US Open Cup titles between 1998 and 2006.
But the Fire have only made the Playoffs two times in the final 12 seasons - a stoop Shaqiri ambitions to assist opposite.
"I'm very satisfied now that I'm here and I'm searching surely forward with this club, to power ahead and to achieve success inside the near future," he stated.
On the early impressions of his new membership and teammates, he delivered: "I turned into impressed with the crew, and the players, a variety of younger players, talented players.
