Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso before Chelsea's win over Bournemouth(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
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The best ability is availability. It's all good having all the talent in the world, but if you're never available, what use is it?
For Chelsea, one of the countless reasons they decided to go big on Morgan Rogers in the summer was the former Aston Villa man's availability. Xabi Alonso is said to have pushed hard for the Blues to shock the footballing world and queue-jump Arsenal in what turned out to be a club-record deal.
In fact, the £117million Chelsea shelled out for Rogers in July was - and still is - the most money ever paid for a British player.
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Since making the big-money move to Stamford Bridge, things couldn't have gone any better for Rogers. For club and country thus far this season, the 24-year-old has scored five goals and assisted five times - doing so while featuring in every possible match.
Even over the international break where England head coach Thomas Tuchel was chopping and changing his side in their four matches, Rogers started two and came on in the other games. Rogers completed 90 minutes in both Czech Republic games to top it all off.
For Chelsea, Rogers has played 523 minutes (not including stoppage time) out of a possible 540. The former Villa man has also played well over 100 minutes in both of the Blues' Carabao Cup fixtures thus far.
Alonso was asked about Rogers, Chelsea's expensive machine, following the 5-1 win against Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon, where the England international scored his fifth goal of the campaign. Asked to try and explain how Rogers is able to keep going without breaking down, Alonso said: "Because he's young, he's fresh, he's strong, he's quick.
"He's a very complete, modern football player. His availability is very high as well, so that's very, very important.
"He looks fresh and he's enjoying it because he connects very well with his teammates. He's a great guy connecting with many teammates and he's having a great impact, I would say, for the club."
Morgan Rogers celebrates
Nobody is talking about Morgan Rogers' £117million price tag anymore(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
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Remarkably, Rogers played 37/38 Premier League games for Aston Villa in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons. His ability to go again and again is mightily impressive but Alonso might have to be careful as the season goes on, especially if Chelsea go further in the Carabao Cup.
While the Blues don't have European football to contend with this term, if they progress past Liverpool - later this month - in the League Cup, that will throw more midweek fixtures into the mix for Alonso and his squad.
While Alonso has insisted he is taking the Carabao Cup seriously, they might prove appropriate games to give the relentless Rogers the night off.
He tried doing that in the last round against Leeds United, but Alonso had his hand forced. With the Whites ahead at half-time, Alonso called upon his avengers - the likes of Rogers, Cole Palmer, Reece James and Pedro Neto - to save the day.
In the second period, Rogers more than made his presence known to Leeds, providing a hat-trick of assists to send the Blues into the next round. It was a signal, very early on in his Chelsea tenure, of Rogers' significance to his new team.
His numbers back that up as well. While his goals and assists tally is among the best in the league - joint-fifth in the direct goal contributions (with five) table alongside Palmer - Rogers also puts in the hard yards.
Morgan Rogers celebrates
Morgan Rogers celebrates scoring his fourth goal of the season for Chelsea(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
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According to data provided by FotMob, Rogers sits 18th in the distance covered standings. With 64.9km to his name already, he has recorded more distance than any other player in the Blues squad. Per 90, he is way down in 52nd with an average of 11.2km but there is no doubt Rogers is bringing the energy to this Chelsea side.
In many ways, Chelsea gambled on Rogers; spending £117m to acquire him, but Blues chiefs were adamant the ex-Villa attacker would slot in seamlessly and make an immediate contribution. That has been proven right, and while Bradley Barcola, signed for a £123m package later in the same window, struggles to adapt to life at Liverpool after his move from Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea’s desire to bring a Premier League-proven talent to Stamford Bridge has paid off in the early part of the season.
Eyebrows were raised at the inflated price Chelsea paid for Rogers but nobody seems to be speaking about it now.