The first player Thomas Tuchel brought on for Chelsea is still waiting to make his Premier League debut.
Marcus Bettinelli, the first player acquired by Thomas Tuchel for Chelsea, has yet to make his Premier League debut for the team despite being signed in July 2021.
Bettinelli was Chelsea’s third-choice goalkeeper until his contract with Fulham expired in the summer of 2021, and he signed on a free transfer, becoming Tuchel’s first acquisition since replacing Lampard in January. Bettinelli had been on loan at Middlesbrough in the Championship for the 2020–21 season after losing his job at Fulham before joining Chelsea.
Bettinelli has yet to make his Premier League debut for Chelsea, but he has frequently been a substitute in the Champions League due to the fact that many clubs prefer to have two goalkeepers on their bench. Bettinelli was used seven times as a substitute in the Premier League during his rookie campaign, but he never got the chance to play.
Bettinelli played the full 90 minutes in Chelsea’s lone appearance for them, a 5-1 FA Cup third-round win over Chesterfield in January 2022. While Bettinelli was a regular on the bench during the earlier stages of both domestic cup tournaments, Chelsea still advanced to the final.
Due to injuries to both Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy this season, Bettinelli has been frequently used as a replacement. Despite being a regular member of the squad, Bettinelli has failed to play a single minute for Chelsea’s first team this year. The season’s finish will mark the end of his contract.
Bettinelli said he was eager to work with Kepa and Mendy and was ready to step up whenever needed when he initially joined Chelsea. Although having participated in a lot of games the previous season, he said he was looking forward to playing a different role at Chelsea. He also underlined his desire to pick up knowledge from others, do his best to help the team, and be a part of the club’s overall success.
“It was crucial that I participated in a lot of games last year. It kept me sharp and if I’m ever needed this season then I’ll be ready.
I’m looking forward to training with those two world-class goalkeepers, and I know I’ll pick up a lot from them both. The fact that I still have a lot to offer is one of the main reasons I joined Chelsea.
