Former Toronto FC goalkeeper Quentin Westberg looks forward to return to BMO Field

Football

Published 13.04.2023

Former Toronto FC goalkeeper Quentin Westberg looks forward to return to BMO Field

Toronto FC will get one other take a look at Quentin Westberg on Saturday, this time in Atlanta United colors.

The former TFC goalkeeper, deemed surplus to necessities by Toronto when his contract ran out on the finish of final 12 months, returns to BMO Field. And the 36-year-old appears more likely to be within the Atlanta aim with veteran Brad Guzan sidelined after tearing the medial collateral ligament in his left knee final Saturday in a 1-1 draw at New York City FC.

Westberg, who was born in France to an American father and French mom, dressed as Guzan’s backup the primary seven weeks of the season.

Westberg says coming again to Toronto will likely be emotional, given the “special memories” he shared there.

“Toronto has been my home. And we created roots, deep roots … I’m going to be extremely happy to be back in Toronto,,” he mentioned.

But he says he’ll put that emotion apart for the 90 minutes of the sport. “It will be strictly business,” he mentioned.

Toronto (1-1-5) is unbeaten in six video games (1-0-5), a run that began March 4 with a 1-1 attract Atlanta. TFC conceded two late targets in a painful 3-2 loss to D.C. United within the Feb. 25 season opener.

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Atlanta (4-1-2) arrives boasting the fifth-best offence within the league, averaging two targets a sport. Its lone loss was a 6-1 defeat by the hands of the Columbus Crew. Atlanta conceded simply 4 targets in its different six video games with two shutouts.

Westberg, identified merely as Q by teammates, says he has “absolutely no hard feelings” in direction of TFC.

“Because right from the get-go, as soon as I got to Toronto, right away I felt like it was a good match — both in playing style, in the lifestyle, everything.”

Westberg received the No. 1 job in Toronto and went on to start out a complete of 53 regular-season and playoff video games in 2019 and ’20.

The pandemic actually hit dwelling for Westberg through the 2021 pre-season when his household of six all contracted COVID.

They all recovered however there have been some actual considerations together with his youngest, who was one on the time, requiring a visit to the hospital.

Westberg was solely a couple of week late arriving at camp in Florida. But with Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League matches looming, Alex Bono regained the beginning place he had misplaced when Westberg arrived on the membership.

“The last two (years) weren’t as enjoyable, on my part,” Westberg acknowledged.

“I would have been very faithful to the club, to be honest, but it didn’t feel like the match was as perfect as it used to be,” he added. “I didn’t feel like it was the best version of myself. So it made sense in a way (to move on). And I’m experienced enough now to know when you need to hang on and sometimes when you need to let go. And it felt like I needed to let go from the club.”

Toronto additionally let Bono go after final season, signing free agent ‘keeper Sean Johnson within the low season as the brand new membership No. 1. Bono, TFC’s franchise chief in goalkeeper wins with 67, landed with D.C. United the place he’s backing up Tyler Miller.

Westberg says he and his household have discovered a brand new dwelling in Atlanta.

“The hospitality of the South is not overrated both at the club and in our day-to-day life … We’re super-happy to be here and I’m not going to lie, (we’re) enjoying the weather,” he mentioned with a smile.

His 4 youngsters, aged two, six, 10 and 12, have adjusted nicely to the transfer. Westberg says he can stroll to the elementary college two of his youngsters attend.

On the soccer entrance, it doubtless helped that Westberg has good recollections of Atlanta. He was in aim when TFC downed Atlanta 2-1 within the 2019 Eastern Conference ultimate, stopping Josef Martinez’s penalty kick at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Atlanta has needed to go to Plan B in aim for the second straight season. Guzan performed in simply seven league video games final 12 months earlier than rupturing his Achilles.

Atlanta used three totally different ‘keepers — Bobby Shuttleworth (six begins), Rocco Rios Novo (15 begins) and Raul Gaudino (six begins) — in a bid to fill that void final season.

While Guzan was harm within the 18th minute final Saturday in a collision with NYCFC’s Gabe Segal, the 38-year-old ‘keeper one way or the other completed the sport. But Atlanta introduced Tuesday that its captain will likely be out 10 to 12 weeks.

Atlanta additionally has Senegal worldwide goalkeeper Clement Diop, who beforehand performed for the Los Angeles Galaxy, CF Montreal, New England Revolution and Inter Miami.