Chelsea star Morgan Rogers has shared what Joao Pedro has told him since becoming team-mates this summer
Morgan Rogers with Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer
Morgan Rogers has shared what Joao Pedro has told him since joining Chelsea(Image: Robin Jones/Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Chelsea star Morgan Rogers has suggested that Joao Pedro played a part in his stunning goal against Manchester United, despite missing the game through injury. The £117million signing opened the scoring as Xabi Alonso’s side earned a 2-0 win on Saturday.
Rogers broke the deadlock early in the second half with a solo run as he danced through United’s defence before lifting the ball over goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Cole Palmer soon doubled Chelsea’s lead from the penalty spot after defender Lisandro Martinez was dismissed with a second yellow card.
Rogers’ opening goal was the standout moment of a game that got Alonso’s side back to winning ways following recent defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool. He has scored six goals in 12 games for the Blues as part of Chelsea’s potent frontline.
The England international was supported by Palmer and Estevao Willian in attack, with first-choice striker Pedro missing the United clash due to a thigh issue. However, Rogers admitted that the Brazilian star may have played a subliminal role in his goal, having repeatedly implored his team-mate to chip goalkeepers more often.
Get YOUR Chelsea Newsletter
All the best news, features, updates and analysis from Bobby Vincent and more straight to your Inbox!
Yours in just two simple steps.
Head THIS WAY
Enter your email and hit Subscribe.
After the United win, Rogers spoke to former Chelsea striker Tore Andre Flo, who was working as a pundit at Stamford Bridge. The Norwegian icon, who scored 50 goals in 163 games for the club, praised the former Aston Villa star for his choice of finish.
Set Football London as a 'Preferred Source' to get quicker access to the news you value.
Google Preferred Source Badge
Google Preferred Source Badge
“I saw some stats; chipping is the highest rate of scoring goals when one-on-one,” Flo said to Rogers on Stadium Astro. “I was thinking about it when you went through there. It was a brilliant finish.”
Upon receiving Flo’s seal of approval, Rogers credited Pedro for repeatedly instructing him to score that type of goal. Discussing the striker’s ability to chip goalkeepers, Rogers said: “Joao Pedro is so good at it.
“He’s always doing it in training, and he’s always moaning at me to do it. Maybe that was him speaking to me in the back of my mind.”
Morgan Rogers celebrates scoring for Chelsea
Rogers used Joao Pedro's advice against Manchester United(Image: Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Make sure you never miss the latest Chelsea news and opinion by making Football London one of your Google preferred sources.
Pedro made a prolific start to the season before his recent injury issue, with the 25-year-old scoring five goals and registering three assists in six league games. Given the striker’s absence, Chelsea boss Alonso was impressed by how his side attacked United in the second half.
“Today has worked really well,” Alonso said. “We need to be sometimes creative, sometimes try to find solutions with the players available and even Pedro [Neto], he has worked really hard in that position, it's not new for him.
“Linking up with the players around, there were moments but I would say that especially the start of the second half, what we have spoken at half-time, the reaction was quite good.”
Article continues below
Assessing his team’s overall performance, Alonso said: “Yeah, I think that there were different moments in the game. The first half was intense, there were momentums for both sides.
“United had their chances, we were close as well, so at half-time we have spoken and the reaction from the second half was better. We started quite well, we got the lead, we looked in better control and after with the 2-0 and the red card the context of the game changed. But you know, it has not been easy.”