Chelsea forward Morgan Rogers has admitted he looks closely at the company before agreeing to watch football matches away from the pitch. Speaking to the club’s CFC+ streaming platform, the England international revealed a delightfully exacting standard for those joining him in front of the TV.
The 24-year-old has made a blistering start to life at Stamford Bridge after his British record £117million switch from Aston Villa this summer. Rogers has three goals and one assist in five Premier League appearances and is now an integral part of Xabi Alonso’s attack.
In a tongue-in-cheek exchange, Rogers explained his selective approach to spectating:
“When people say do you wanna come round and watch the game. I need to know who’s there. I need people there who are either going to stay silent or give valid opinions of the game.”
Rogers also featured for England at the World Cup, starting on the right side of the pitch in the semi-final loss to Argentina in July. He provided the cross for Anthony Gordon’s opener before Lionel Messi masterminded a late Argentine comeback in Atlanta. The forward will be hoping to continue the sort of form he showed at the start of the season for Chelsea, who have taken just one point from their last three league matches.
Morgan Rogers: How Xabi Alonso’s philosophy led to Chelsea decision
Rogers has previously cited the footballing philosophy of Xabi Alonso as the main reason behind his summer switch from Aston Villa to Chelsea. The forward said in July on the club’s official website that he spoke with the Spaniard before putting pen to paper.
Rogers reflected on how Alonso’s vision matched his own footballing ideals:
“I’ve had a few conversations with him, and I think it’s important for me to be here that I need to understand what the manager’s like, how he is and how he wants to operate. It very much fits with the way I see the game, the way I want to play, and the way I want to be me, and be free and express myself. Him being a part of that was a massive factor in me being here.”
The partnership has since yielded considerable fruit, with Chelsea scoring 18 goals in their first seven matches under Alonso. But defensive frailty has cost Chelsea dearly, with the Blues leaking 12 goals in their first five Premier League matches. Rogers and his teammates are in action again on October 10 when they face Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.