Pair joins Cavalry FC with hopes of turning round private CPL tales
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In the event you can’t beat ’em, be part of ’em.
It’s precisely why two of the Canadian Premier League’s prime performers because the circuit kicked off six years in the past have discovered their approach to Cavalry FC.
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Uninterested in being kicked round by Cavalry — and your complete league, actually — midfielder Diego Gutiérrez and striker Tobias Warschewski have each signed on with Calgary’s skilled footie squad, hoping to alter the fortunes of their respective careers.
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“Profitable is essential,” mentioned Gutiérrez, when requested at Cavalry’s pre-season coaching about making the transfer to Cavalry. “For my profession, for my life, for my well being … I need to play playoffs. I’ve to play in playoffs. I’m prepared.”
“Each time, it was onerous to play in opposition to the Cavs,” agreed Warschewski, when met with the identical question. “So it was a simple resolution to come back right here.”
Particularly given the place they’re coming from.
Gutierrez arrives in Calgary after spending 4 of his final 5 skilled seasons with Valour FC — an ever-changing, ever-struggling franchise with no playoff look within the CPL’s 5 campaigns.
Regardless of that, the Quebec-born Gutiérrez — who moved together with his household to Chile when he was three — drew reward as being one of many league’s greatest midfielders, scoring a career-high 4 objectives in 2023.
“We really feel he was the most effective midfielders within the CPL,” mentioned Cavalry GM/head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. “And the way do you make a powerful midfielder even stronger? You add the most effective midfielders within the league. I feel you want that steadiness, as a result of if it’s a case of sharing vitality by way of the season, then completely different gamers have to steer at completely different instances.
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“However he’s a participant that passes, he can play in all three midfield positions, he’s obtained an extended vary of passing, he’s good at set-plays, and he runs for days.”
The times with Valour had been difficult throughout his two completely different tenures there. The membership received simply 10 of 37 video games in 2019 and ’20. And in Gutiérrez’s second tour of obligation in Manitoba after a yr taking part in with Athletic Membership Barnechea of Chile’s second-tier league, Valour collected solely 16 victories in 58 matches, together with a last-place 6-8-14 CPL report final season.
“Three years in a row, new guys are available,” mentioned Gutiérrez, whose contract with Cavalry is for 2 years with an possibility for a 3rd. “The entire crew in Winnipeg modified three years in a row. It’s very onerous to be teammates. You’re solely teammates for a really brief time.”
However right here? He’s already feeling the chemistry, and the nice and cozy welcome he’s obtained has him pondering greater than was the case with Valour.
“The contact with the ball … I adore it,” continued the 26-year-old. “We are able to contact it 10 instances, and the fellows maintain telling you, maintain touching it. That’s my soccer.
“I may be a part of the most effective midfield within the CPL. I need to play in playoffs and be champion.”
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Identical goes for Warschewski, a 25-year-old ahead from Germany who starred for FC Edmonton earlier than that franchise folded after the 2022 marketing campaign.
Regardless of the hardship and a shedding existence of simply 10 wins in 58 contests in its closing two years when Warschewski was there, the striker netted 11 objectives and proved robust for even Cavalry to comprise.
“He had a purpose involvement each second sport, so whether or not it was a purpose or help, his stats had been very, excellent,” Wheeldon mentioned. “So we really feel that he’s attacking addition, and he’s additionally versatile.”
Warschewski’s deal can be a two-year-plus-an-option pact, as he involves Calgary after a yr with out soccer.
“I had a troublesome yr final yr,” admitted Warschewski. “I used to be making an attempt to come back again into the league, however my outdated company had different plans with me — like extra in Germany. However I felt like North America is house and the place to play in. The atmosphere is for me. I have to be completely satisfied to get pleasure from the whole lot.”
Being on the incorrect aspect of the Battle of Alberta and the Wildrose Cup battles throughout his years in Edmonton helped him understand Cavalry was the place to be when he got here again on the lookout for a job within the CPL.
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“I used to be actually completely satisfied to start with in my first yr in Edmonton,” Warschewski mentioned. “I feel we had an excellent squad, however some issues went incorrect. The standard was there, however we didn’t put it on the pitch. With no possession and a whole lot of younger youngsters, I used to be not likely completely satisfied anymore. I nonetheless need to win video games — that’s what it’s all about. You get pleasure from it much more. This was a troublesome a part of me after a whole lot of losses in Edmonton.
“Issues had been sort of completely different than right here — the professionalism and with the coaching periods and being with the crew. Everyone’s shut collectively — you are feeling straight welcome. It’s completely different. You’re feeling it’s rather more skilled than Edmonton was.
“With this crew and this high quality, I’m excited to be right here. So I’ll strive my greatest to have an effect.”
The opposite key low season addition for Cavalry was ahead Lleyton Brooks, a 22-year-old from Down Beneath.
The teenager joined the CPL membership as a free agent following a four-year profession in Australia’s A-League, through which he made 32 appearances — hanging three objectives — for Melbourne Victory.
Internationally, Brooks has made three appearances and scored two objectives for the Australia’s nationwide under-18 crew.
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“He’s a really quick, direct skilful winger,” added Wheeldon. “We felt we wanted that as one other thorn in our aspect to present us a special sort of assault.”
FIELD TIME
The Cavs introduced they’ve activated the 2024 possibility for defender Tom Discipline.
The London-born former Brentford FC and Republic of Eire youth worldwide defender returned to the membership in the summertime of 2023.
”Tom is a really clever and versatile footballer that fits our fashion of play,” Wheeldon mentioned. “He’s proven nice character and resilience in the way in which he has overcome a tough patch of his profession with harm. His high quality is obvious to see, and let’s not overlook his taking part in background earlier than he got here to us. He’s an asset to us day-in and day-out on the coaching pitch, and I sit up for working extra with him in his subsequent chapter of his profession.”
Discipline was a member of the 2021 and ’22 seasons, throughout which he made a complete of 12 appearances for Cavalry FC throughout all competitions earlier than sadly being dominated out because of harm.
In 2023, Discipline joined League1 Alberta aspect Calgary Foothills FC, with whom he captained the aspect and helped in main them to profitable the league’s inaugural exhibition season with an undefeated report as he regained his health.
Discipline was then rewarded with a brand new contract with Cavalry and went on to make 4 appearances final season, as he helped contribute to the crew’s league-title run.
tsaelhof@postmedia.com
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