Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
On Saturday afternoon, Morgan Rogers took to the pitch for the first time as a Chelsea player. It took him seven minutes to score his first goal in Chelsea colours, as the Blues beat Real Sociedad.
A fifth win in eight pre-season matches saw Xabi Alonso’s men round off their pre-season campaign in style, as Alonso welcomed back players from England, France and Argentina’s World Cup squads.
Rogers was one of those, combining with Cole Palmer in a dual 10 role. Alonso fielded a 3-4-2-1 system, much like the one he used in Germany with Leverkusen. It looks like the system he will use at Fulham.
While Rogers making an immediate impact came as no surprise to joyous Chelsea fans, his arrival remains a shock. Choosing Chelsea over Mikel Arteta’s Premier League champions Arsenal looked an impossibility.
Pat Nevin thinks he knows why Rogers chose Chelsea
Many can point to the obvious reasons. Money on offer at Chelsea, the Blues’ willingness to meet Aston Villa’s asking price, Rogers being best mates with Cole Palmer. Pat Nevin has offered a different reason.
Edinburgh International Book Festival 2021
Photo by Roberto Ricciuti/Getty Images
Speaking to OLBG, former Chelsea star Nevin believes Rogers picked a move to Stamford Bridge over The Emirates because the £117m star wouldn’t regularly start for the Gunners if he moved to North London.
“Morgan Rogers is brilliant. I love him as a player. We’re talking about selfish players, but he is one of the least self-indulgent players I know in British football. He’s utterly brilliant,” Nevin said, praising Rogers.
“Players that are brilliant are usually a wee bit selfish on the ball. I’ve watched Aston Villa a lot, and apart from my obvious love for John McGinn, Morgan was the man for me,” Nevin added on the £117m star.
“Honestly, I adore him as a player. He’s absolutely, utterly fantastic. So Arsenal made sense. And then you look at where he has to fit in, and you’re thinking, you going to oust Odegaard? They’ve just brought Eze.
“Kai Havertz can drop back in there and even though you’re Morgan Rogers and you’re a great player, you must think, am I going to get a game here? Eze is spectacular, and he’s not playing every week.
Chelsea v Real Sociedad - Pre-Season Friendly
Photo by Chelsea Football Club/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
And if you’re not playing every week and you’re in that position, it has a bad effect. Will he play every week for Chelsea? Completely, totally. He’s nailed on. If he’s fit and playing well, he’s starting.
“He’s right up there first in the team sheet. You build the team around him in Cole Palmer. In that sense, it makes sense to me that if the Arsenal thing didn’t happen. He’ll play every game [for Chelsea],” he added.
How did Rogers play against Real Sociedad?
As aforementioned, Rogers scored the first of three goals on Saturday as Alonso’s men beat his old side with a degree of ease. Joao Pedro was easily the best player on the pitch, but Rogers was third-best.
Enzo Fernandez reaction on Chelsea return
Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP via Getty Images
That is according to FotMob, with Rogers earning a 7.8 rating. The England ace produced the second-most touches in the opposition box, while completing 16 of his 19 passes, most of which were in attack.
A good first game for Rogers, and while it was only a tap-in, it will give the former Aston Villa star some confidence. With the first Premier League game of the season up next, Rogers will surely get the nod.