Why the Fire should leave Xherdan Shaqiri now

In the 61st minute of the Fire's victory last Saturday against the Galaxy, Brian Gutierrez intercepted a pass a few meters from midfield. Gutierrez rushed to midfield and fired from about 25 yards out, ricocheting his attempt off both goal posts before the ball crossed the line for perhaps the Fire's best goal of the season.

It's no coincidence that this happened without Xherdan Shaqiri. For the Fire, there is no reason to give their most expensive player another second on the field in their colors.

Shaqiri has been cleared to leave for the Swiss national team's Euro 2024 training camp ahead of the Fire's match against DC United on May 25. The camp started on May 27, meaning Shaqiri could have dressed for the fire before leaving.

Since this decision, the Fire have five points in three matches. It's not a breakneck pace, but it's a marked improvement over most of their season.

“At the point where we are right now as a group, we needed and I needed everyone to focus on one thing, and that's completely normal,” coach Frank Klopas said after the DC United match. “It's from a human point of view, that the guy could think with the Euro, it could be the last [of his career]. It’s best that we made this decision and we wish him the best.

Given that Shaqiri's contract expires at the end of the season, the Fire should ensure that this statement also serves as a farewell even after Shaqiri's national team commitments end. The upcoming transfer window gives them the opportunity – perhaps long overdue – to move on, whether that's a move to Swiss sister club FC Lugano or elsewhere.

If no transfer materializes, the result should be the same: Shaqiri's last match with the Fire has already been played.

In 2½ seasons, Shaqiri never lived up to his salary or transfer fee paid by sporting director Georg Heitz. He scored 14 goals and added 18 assists in 69 MLS matches, far from what one would expect from a designated player orchestrating an attack. Beyond his disappointing statistics, intermittent questions have been raised about Shaqiri's effort and commitment to the Fire compared to the Swiss national team.

Shaqiri's presence also didn't help Gutierrez, whose play seemed to stagnate this season. Instead of playing center where his creativity can shine, Gutierrez has been relegated to a wing since Shaqiri's arrival ahead of the 2022 season.

It's hard to say how much this stunted Gutierrez's growth, but it probably didn't help. If Shaqiri is moved, the Fire can see what they have in Gutierrez, a much faster and younger player who is more likely to be part of the club's next suitor.

A permanent move to the so-called No. 10 position would be another development in Gutierrez's roller coaster season.

“I had my ups and downs, the team also had its ups and downs, but now I feel more confident with the ball and my game is developing even more the more I play,” Gutierrez said after the Galaxy game. “Every player has ups and downs, but you always have to look forward and see the future.”

Gutierrez needs to be a central part of the Fire's immediate and long-term future. Shaqiri should only be part of their past.