Toronto FC will get another look at Quentin Westberg on Saturday, this time in Atlanta United colours.
The former TFC goalkeeper, deemed surplus to requirements by Toronto when his contract ran out at the end of last year, returns to BMO Field. And the 36-year-old looks likely to be in the Atlanta goal with veteran Brad Guzan sidelined after tearing the medial collateral ligament in his left knee last Saturday in a 1-1 draw at New York City FC.
Westberg, who was born in France to an American father and French mother, dressed as Guzan's backup the first seven weeks of the season.
Westberg says coming back to Toronto will 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 said.
But he says he will put that emotion aside for the 90 minutes of the game. "It will be strictly business," he said.
Toronto (1-1-5) is unbeaten in six games (1-0-5), a run that started March 4 with a 1-1 draw in Atlanta. TFC conceded two late goals in a painful 3-2 loss to D.C. United in the Feb. 25 season opener.
Atlanta (4-1-2) arrives boasting the fifth-best offence in the league, averaging two goals a game. Its lone loss was a 6-1 defeat at the hands of the Columbus Crew. Atlanta conceded just four goals in its other six games with two shutouts.
Westberg, known simply as Q by teammates, says he "absolutely no hard feelings" towards 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 won the No. 1 job in Toronto and went on to start a total of 53 regular-season and playoff games in 2019 and '20.
The pandemic literally hit home for Westberg during the 2021 pre-season when his family of six all contracted COVID.
They all recovered but where were some real concerns with his youngest, who was one at the time, requiring a trip to hospital.
Westberg was only about a week late arriving at camp in Florida. But with Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League matches looming, Alex Bono regained the starting position he had lost when Westberg arrived at the club.
"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 also let Bono go after last season, signing free agent 'keeper Sean Johnson in the off-season as the new club No. 1. Bono, TFC's franchise leader in goalkeeper wins with 67, landed with D.C. United where he is backing up Tyler Miller.
Westberg says he and his family have found a new home 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 said with a smile.
His four kids, aged two, six, 10 and 12, have adjusted well to the move. Westberg says he can walk to the elementary school two of his kids attend.
On the soccer front, it likely helped that Westberg has good memories of Atlanta. He was in goal when TFC downed Atlanta 2-1 in the 2019 Eastern Conference final, stopping Josef Martinez's penalty kick at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Atlanta has had to go to Plan B in goal for the second straight season. Guzan played in just seven league games last year before rupturing his Achilles.
Atlanta used three different 'keepers — Bobby Shuttleworth (six starts), Rocco Rios Novo (15 starts) and Raul Gaudino (six starts) — in a bid to fill that void last season.
While Guzan was hurt in the 18th minute last Saturday in a collision with NYCFC's Gabe Segal, the 38-year-old 'keeper somehow finished the game. But Atlanta announced Tuesday that its captain will be out 10 to 12 weeks.
Atlanta also has Senegal international goalkeeper Clement Diop, who previously played for the Los Angeles Galaxy, CF Montreal, New England Revolution and Inter Miami.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 13, 2023
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
