Make no mistake, Montreal Impact midfielder Romell Quioto wants to score against his former club CD Olimpia when the two sides meet in the first leg of their Concacaf Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday night (8 pm ET | FS2, TUDN, TSN1, RDS). He just won't make a bit deal about it if it happens.
Speaking to Honduran outlet Diez ahead of Tuesday's Leg 1, Quioto elaborated on his chance to put a dent in the Cinderella run of the Honduran team where he spent three-and-a-half seasons before moving to MLS, first with the Houston Dynamo and then with Montreal.
“Yes, If I get the chance I’d welcome it,” Quioto said. “You have to set feelings aside and be professional. I’m defending the Impact shirt and I’m going to give my all in these two games."
However, he's not about to celebrate, whether a goal comes in Montreal or in Honduras.
“No. I have a lot of respect for the institution," the Honduras national team regular said of Olimpia. "I was there for three years. When I arrived there the fans welcomed me and showed me a lot of love. I’m not thinking about celebrating if I score.”
Some players may feel conflicted facing their former team, but Quioto says he's more excited than nervous.
“It’s a great chance for me to face them. I know a lot about them — player for player,” Quioto said in a pre-match press conference. “Olimpia for me is the best in Honduras and [maybe] in Central America? We know what they are and what they represent and they’ll always fight.”
Quioto has two goals in four appearances in all competitions for the Impact, who advanced past Costa Rica's Deportivo Saprissa in the round of 16 on away goals after drawing both legs, and have a win and a draw in league play. And he's started all four matches for first-year coach Thierry Henry, after he was traded from Houston following the 2019 season.
Quioto did not play a minute of MLS action under Dynamo interim coach Davy Arnaud, who took over after Wilmer Cabrera was fired in early August. Quioto's last action in orange came when he received a red card in the 29th minute after elbowing New York City FC's Ronald Matarita, which landed him with a two-match suspension.
"I'm thankful," Quioto said of his new beginning. "The coach (Thierry Henry) is giving me a chance and I hope I can take advantage. ... I thank him that he trusts me and I try to respond on the field game to game."
