Morgan Rogers says it is still “mind-boggling” to play for Chelsea — and has rated his time at the club a “10 out of 10” so far as he declared this the best period of his career.
Rogers has given a wide-ranging interview while away on England duty and talked about his altercation with Declan Rice, and even joking that he is pleased for a break from his club and country team-mate Cole Palmer after he withdrew from the squad on Monday.
Rogers became Chelsea’s club-record signing this summer when he joined the Blues for £117million from Aston Villa and believes England fans will expect more from him now he has that price tag attached.
“I think people will judge me on a higher pedestal of what I'm delivering, whether it's worth what I'm being talked about,” he said. “I want to show what I'm about.”
Rogers was asked how he, Palmer and Joao Pedro are coping with the pressure of leading Chelsea’s charge this season. Much has been said about Chelsea’s reliance on the chemistry they are forming as a front-three.
“The three of us have spoken together about it, but it's not just us, it's a team game. You can score as many goals as you want, but if the other teams are scoring the same amount, you're not going to win games.”
Asked to rate his time at Chelsea so far out of ten, he replied: “10 — I’ve enjoyed it. I'm feeling as good as I've ever felt playing, contributing, scoring goals, assists, creating chances, as good as I ever have done in my career. So why would it not be a 10?”
Palmer dropped out of the England squad on Monday and Rogers joked he is happy “having a break” from his good friend.
Rogers explained why he made the decision to leave Villa this summer, and why he picked Chelsea.
“It was time for me to take that next step and I feel like I want to be seen as one of the best players in the Premier League, one of the best players in the world. To do so, I needed to take that next step and that next chapter.
“I need to play with the best players in the world and compete with the best players in the world, and on that bigger stage, and I just feel Chelsea brings that different level of pressure of having to win and having to perform each game.
“And the calibre of players I’ve playing with and training with each game has gone to a whole new level and made me have to understand how to get that new level myself. It is mind-boggling to think I can be part of the history of that club.”
Rogers was clipped by Declan Rice earlier month when Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 in the Premier League, and there was a sharp exchange of words between the pair on the pitch.
While Rice has withdrawn from the England squad, Rogers insisted: “It is just competitors competing and wanting to win. London derby, me getting absolutely dog’s abuse by the fans doesn’t help. All emotions come into one at that moment, but Dec and I are fine.
“We spoke about it after the game. We're completely fine. It's just one of those things in football: we want to win. That's actually a good thing — showing that we put friendships and everything aside and just want to win for our clubs and do what it takes. Sometimes tempers rise a little bit but it's all good.”
