Marcus Bettinelli: Playing with ‘winners' was the reason for Man City move, ‘near impossible to say no'

New York Times

5 hours ago

Marcus Bettinelli says the prospect of working with 'winners' was why he swapped life as back-up goalkeeper at Chelsea for Manchester City.
The 33-year-old spent four years at Stamford Bridge but has replaced Scott Carson in the role of third-choice goalkeeper behind Ederson and Stefan Ortega.
'I think obviously when you get a phone call from Man City and you've got a chance to work with winners and Pep (Guardiola), who's won everything in his career, to learn from him, to see how he works, to see this mentality that the lads have in his team, it was near impossible for me to say no.
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'I've always been a London boy… so leaving for myself and my family was obviously always a big decision but when Man City phone, these ideas kind of go out the window. You only really have one choice and that is to go because it's a once in a lifetime opportunity.'
City paid a nominal fee for Bettinelli, who joined his news team-mates just days before flying out to the U.S. for the Club World Cup.
'It was a bit of a whirlwind,' Bettinelli said.
'Obviously, last season I was at Chelsea and we had the Conference League final, which only felt like a week ago now. But yes, that finished and then I had a small break, but I managed to get away and stuff.
'Then I was going back and I think the intention was always to go to America with Chelsea, to be honest. And then I got the phone call from my agent and he said, 'You might be going to America, but you might be with a different team, really. And I said, 'Alright, with who?' and he said, Manchester City. So, yes, it was obviously a bit of a crazy few days.'
City are going through a lot of change and finding a replacement for a popular figure like Carson meant identifying the right type of character for what is largely a supporting role.
Bettinelli has found the transition easy having spoken to Guardiola and his backroom staff before moving to a similar role.
'I've done that for the last four years at Chelsea. Very different, obviously, young squad and stuff. Also, at the same time, when I first went there, I think they'd just won the Champions League, so it was filled with winners as well.
'I definitely got that sense here when I first joined. It's filled with winners and big leaders and stuff. So hopefully over the next couple of years that I'm here, I can obviously implement that. I don't need to come here and do anything extraordinary. These boys have been winning stuff for years and they've got extreme mentality. So, yes, it's a pleasure to be a part of, a pleasure to watch, a pleasure to train with. Hopefully I can contribute where I can.
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'I've done this role for four years now. I've really enjoyed it. I've worked with some top-class goalkeepers and obviously got the chance now to work with Eddie and Stef, who have welcomed me extremely well. I'm always obviously trying to learn. I know I'm 33, but you can always learn in this game. You can always take little bits off each goalkeeper. So, the fact that I've got a chance to work with them and see how they work and take a bit off them and my role here is to make sure that whoever plays on the weekend is 100 per cent ready and mentally and physically right.
'That's my job and that's my aim. And at the end of the day, if the gaffer needs me to step in and play a game or come on, whatever that is, then so be it. I'll also have to be ready. And if that does happen, great. If it doesn't, I also love the fact that I can obviously help the boys, help the team and help whoever's playing.'
(Jan Kruger – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)