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Sam Borden, ESPN senior writer
NOTTINGHAM, England — Matt Turner admitted his season has already had “some moments that I would like to leave behind forever,” but the No. 1 U.S. men’s national team told ESPN on Monday that he’s “hooked on life in the Premier League” and definitely plans to compete. On his position among the Nottingham Forest staff.
“Now I face a real battle to get this position,” Turner said, referring to Forest’s decision to sign Belgian Matz Sales from Strasbourg last week. “I’m no stranger to being in these scenarios. I’ve been overlooked and doubted so many times in my life and career, and I wouldn’t have gotten to this point if I wasn’t confident in myself.”
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“I can be someone who has a real impact on this football club,” he added.
Turner certainly knows the importance of competing for playing time; Most recently, nine months before the 2022 World Cup, he was on the bench as Zach Steffen started the Americans’ World Cup qualifying match only to then see Turner take over the starting job and ultimately play every minute of every match for the Americans in Qatar.
Now, having started the season as Forest’s No.1, Turner is struggling again after several big mistakes – often involving playing the ball with his feet – cost Forest critical points in their bid to remain in the Premier League. Forest ranks sixteenth in the table, two points behind Everton in the relegation zone, but faces the possibility of deducting points due to violations of the league’s profit and sustainability rules.
To his credit, Turner said he understood the pressure the club was under and “didn’t blame them” for looking at other options “given the way things have gone for me”.
“This is a results business,” he said. “And we didn’t get the results that we perhaps deserved or needed.”
Turner admitted he felt the snake’s bite at times this season, as every mistake he made seemed to lead to the other team scoring.
“Everything that could have gone wrong at certain moments has gone completely wrong,” he said. “Sometimes, as goalkeepers, you get away with one or two things, and it’s like I got away with this season from scratch. It’s hard to take.”
Turner was quick to return focus to the club and fight to avoid relegation in the second half of the season. He and his family have settled well in Nottingham, and he desperately wants to help keep the team in the Championship. While some may wonder if Turner has considered returning to the NFL, he waves off that suggestion.
“When I was there, all I wanted to do was be here,” he added. “I’m kind of addicted to life in the Premier League – I want to be around it. I want to keep improving, and I think this is the right place for me to do that.”
Whatever Forest’s ultimate fate, this summer is a crucial one for Turner, as the United States will host the Copa America with an eye on the North American World Cup in 2026. Turner is in regular contact with NFL coach Gregg Berhalter, and has retained the title. . The coach is aware of the situation of his club.
Berhalter has been supportive but there are absolutely no guarantees, according to Turner. Turner said being the starting goalkeeper for the national team is “all I ever wanted” and he is determined to do everything he can to keep the position.
“It’s never a perfect path,” he said. “I hope to have the opportunity to play a series of matches in the Copa America this summer [and] “I have to put my feet up and show my teammates and the coaching staff that I’m still the guy to be No. 1 and move forward with me between the sticks.”
