Morgan Rogers looks set to play several positions for Chelsea this season and Cole Palmer will be key to ensuring his new teammate hits the ground running
Morgan Rogers upon signing for Chelsea
Morgan Rogers joined Chelsea from Aston Villa for £117m earlier this summer(Image: Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
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Morgan Rogers has revealed that he's prepared to play 'a number of positions' for the betterment of the team. The former Aston Villa talisman gave Xabi Alonso a taste of what's to come when he combined well with Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer to mark his Chelsea debut with a goal.
Inside the opening quarter-of-an-hour of the friendly against Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, Rogers pounced on a loose ball inside the six-yard box, beating Alex Remiro from close range. The 24-year-old had positioned himself alongside Pedro, with Palmer lurking on the edge of the box.
Rogers largely featured on the left of the close-knit front-three; on that occasion, he smelt blood and found himself essentially part of a front two. Speaking to club media ahead of the Blues' opening clash of the new Premier League season, which takes place at Craven Cottage on Monday, the England international was quizzed on his versatility.
"I can play in a number of positions, and that's probably a strength of mine," said Rogers, telling his new boss exactly what he wants to hear. "I can adapt and give managers a different outlook on different positions. I've always grown up being that way.
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"Understanding the game and learning the game and enjoying it and loving it as much as I do, I never wanted to be bogged down to one position or one attribute. Being versatile helps me.
He added: "It's a team game, it's 11 players on the pitch, and whatever role I'm given and whatever the manager and other players want from me, I'm going to do to the best of my ability.
"I’m not a player that gets bogged down having to be the guy to score or assist. As long as I'm contributing and creating and providing or doing whatever's necessary to score and to win, that's all I care about."
Xabi Alonso with Morgan Rogers
Morgan Rogers has told Xabi Alonso what he wants to hear(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
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On how he and Palmer plan to get the best out of each other, Rogers said: "By helping each other. We have different qualities, different ways of playing the game and affecting games. Playing off each other and helping each other's strengths and weaknesses can work.
"We do a lot of things that are different. Ultimately, it's about scoring, creating and linking the game. We do that in our own different ways. And even if it might be more of a game suited for one than the other, we can still have our impact.
"It's about helping each other with the rest of the team, learning off each other and trying to get the best version of Chelsea as possible."
Alonso will be delighted to hear that Rogers is prepared to play anywhere across the park, especially considering that he's just outlined his plan to one day trial him and Palmer as eights, among other positions too.
Speaking recently to Men In Blazers, the Spaniard said: "Both of them can be number 10s. Both of them can be number eight or wingers. It’s not just about one position; it’s about dynamism. That they understand and that they connect well with each other."