Morgan Rogers believes Chelsea have what it takes to compete for major honours again and insists he and Cole Palmer already understand how to complement each other on the pitch.
Rogers joined Chelsea from Aston Villa after an impressive FIFA World Cup campaign with England, becoming the country’s most expensive player. He helped the Three Lions reach the semi-finals before finishing third.
The 24-year-old forward made an immediate impact on his Chelsea debut, scoring in their 3-1 victory over Real Sociedad on Saturday.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Rogers said he was eager to begin a new chapter at Stamford Bridge.
“I’m genuinely so excited. What a summer it’s been.
“It’s probably the only summer where I wouldn’t have minded a shorter holiday. I enjoyed the rest, and I cherished the time with my family, but at the same time, I was watching preseason and itching to get back on the pitch.
“Every day walking into the training ground, you can feel the excitement, and you can feel the uncertainty of where it’s going to go. It could go well, it could go badly, but I’m feeling positive energy and vibes. New manager, new environment, and new signings – I think everyone is looking forward to seeing what happens next and how far we can take the team.”
Rogers acknowledged the expectations surrounding Chelsea but said the squad was confident about its ability to succeed.
“Obviously, everyone’s talking about it, and who knows how we’re going to perform? But it’s down to us. The main thing is we have a confident group of players, and everyone believes in themselves, in each other’s abilities, and in our own capabilities.”
The England international said Chelsea’s history of winning trophies was one of the reasons he was excited about joining the club.
“Chelsea is a club that craves winning trophies. I grew up watching this club win titles and the Champions League, and I want to be part of a team like that.
“When I was watching football as a kid, I saw players like Hazard, Drogba, and Lampard emerge generation after generation. That was a great team, and they were always winning and competing for titles, and I want to be part of a team like that here.”
He added that several players in the current squad share the same ambition.
“There are a lot of players in that changing room who want to achieve the same thing, so it’s exciting to see how far we can take the team.
“The most important thing now is to settle down and prove wrong those who have been negative about Chelsea in recent years. I’m excited, I’m positive, and I really can’t wait.”
Rogers has also reunited with former Manchester City academy teammate Palmer following his move to Stamford Bridge.
The pair played together at City during their youth careers and have also represented England together.
Rogers believes their contrasting styles can make them an effective attacking partnership.
“I’ve seen people saying, ‘How do you fit them both into the lineup? How are they going to play?’
“We have completely different attributes. He’s more of a passer, a connector, a link-up player. He’s like an artist, very creative with the ball and how he controls it.
“I’m more direct, more linear, and more physical. We are completely different, but that difference is very complementary.”
Rogers said their long-standing understanding should make it easier for them to combine at Chelsea.
“Since we were about 14, I’ve known how he plays, and he knows how I play. We’ve played together for England, so we know very well how to work with each other and how to get the best out of each other.
“Some people might not know what we’ll be like playing together, but we do. We know how it works, and we’ve already done it. Others might compare us, but now we’re on the same team, and the focus is on winning and getting the best out of each other, and I believe we can do that.”
He also highlighted the importance of their friendship away from football while stressing that team success remains their priority.
“Good off-field relationships always help on-field performance—playing with your closest friends always brings out the best in each other in that competitive atmosphere where you want to challenge each other. But there must be a boundary; the team comes first, winning comes first, and we’ve always put that at the forefront.”
Rogers also acknowledged that his growing profile and transfer value would bring additional pressure, but said he welcomed the challenge.
“This is what I live for. These are the topics I want to talk about.”
“I want to be the subject of discussion when people talk about the game or the England squad.
“I want to be in those discussions – sometimes in a good way, sometimes in a bad way – but if people are talking about me, it means I’m doing something right.”
The forward said his experiences over the summer had given him a taste of being under the spotlight and increased his desire to take responsibility for his performances.
“This summer, I’ve started to get into that state and get a taste of that feeling. I know I still have a lot more to show, and I like this pressure; I like having the key to how I’ll be judged in my own hands.
“If I can have some say in what happens next, then I’ll believe even more that I can steer things in the right direction.”
