Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso singled out Morgan Rogers for high praise on Saturday after the England international delivered another commanding display in their 5-1 thrashing of Bournemouth. The attacker found the net again to take his Premier League tally to four for the campaign, continuing a fine run of form since his big-money switch to west London.
Alonso was delighted with how quickly the summer signing has settled into his plans. The Stamford Bridge side committed a reported €138 million to bring Rogers in from Aston Villa during the July transfer window, and he is already repaying that faith on the pitch.
In eight outings across all competitions this season, the 24-year-old has produced four goals and set up four more for his teammates. Those numbers show just how central he has become to Chelsea’s attack in the opening months of the season.
Before Chelsea finalised the deal, north London rivals Arsenal were heavily linked with the forward. Reports indicated that Rogers came close to teaming up with Mikel Arteta before Chelsea moved quickly to seal his signature during the summer trading period.
Alonso breaks down Rogers’ qualities
Addressing the media after the Bournemouth rout, Alonso explained that he was not caught off guard by the attacker’s blistering start. He pointed to the player’s physical gifts and mindset as the foundation for his instant success in blue.
“No, because he is young, he’s fresh, he’s strong and he’s quick, he is a very complete modern football player,” Alonso told reporters during his post-match briefing.
The Spanish tactician also pointed to the player’s clean bill of health and how easily he has bonded with the rest of the dressing room as major reasons for his fine form.
“His availability is also very high and this is very important,” Alonso said. “He looks fresh and he is enjoying because he’s a great guy and is connecting very well with his team-mates, and with everyone. He is having a great impact on the team and the club.”
Rogers looks completely at home inside Alonso’s 3-4-2-1 tactical setup. Operating in the pockets behind the main striker, his sharp passing and direct running have given Chelsea a potent dimension going forward, silencing any early doubts over his massive price tag.
The Premier League demands intense physical output from attacking players, especially in teams that press aggressively and transition quickly. Rogers has so far shown the engine required to handle those demands without seeing his creative output drop.
Uncertainty surrounds Gittens
While Rogers enjoys a dream start to life in west London, the situation looks far less encouraging for Jamie Gittens. The young winger is struggling to find a pathway into the starting eleven and faces an uncertain future at the club.
Gittens is yet to feature in a single Premier League fixture this term. He was entirely absent from the matchday squad against Bournemouth after picking up an ankle problem while away with the England Under-21 national side.
The lack of minutes on the pitch has inevitably sparked talk about what lies ahead for him. Reports suggest Chelsea could consider sanctioning a temporary loan spell or even a permanent transfer away from Stamford Bridge by 2027 if his situation does not improve.
Italian side AS Roma were credited with an interest in Gittens during the recent summer window. The Serie A outfit monitored his availability back then, and they could decide to return with a fresh approach next year if the winger remains on the fringes of the Chelsea squad.
