Morgan Rogers is certain that Chelsea can once again challenge for the biggest honours, and he believes his partnership with Cole Palmer will be a key factor in that resurgence. The 24‑year‑old forward made history when he left Aston Villa for Chelsea, becoming the most expensive British player ever after a standout World Cup campaign that helped England reach the semi‑finals and secure third place. He announced his arrival in style, finding the net on his debut as Chelsea thrashed Real Sociedad 3‑1 on Saturday. "I'm just so excited," Rogers told Sky Sports, his voice brimming with optimism.
"It’s been an unbelievable summer. It’s probably the one summer where I didn’t mind that it was short.
I love my rest, I love my time with my family, but at the same time it was one where I was watching the pre‑season games, itching to just get back in." He went on to describe the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge as electric. "I feel the excitement walking in every day. I feel the anticipation of not knowing where it can go. It can be good, it can be bad, but I feel a positive energy and a vibe.
A fresh manager, a fresh change of environment, new players added and stuff – I feel that everyone’s excited to see where it can go and where we can take it." Rogers highlighted the collective belief within the squad. "Obviously, everyone’s talking about it, who knows what we’re going to do? But that’s down to us and that’s the thing – we’ve got a confident group of players that believe in ourselves and believe in each other’s ability." He reminded listeners of Chelsea’s winning pedigree. "Chelsea is a club that wants to win things.
It’s a club I grew up watching win titles, win Champions Leagues, and I want to be in teams that do that as well. The players – the Hazards, the Drogbas, the Lampards – coming through when I was growing up watching football.
It’s a massive team and they were always winning and competing for titles and I want to be in teams that do that here." Rogers sees the current roster as hungry for the same success. "There are a lot of players in that room that have the aspirations to do the same thing, so it’s exciting where we can take it. It’s about knuckling down now and proving people wrong who probably had a negative outlook on Chelsea in the last couple of years.
I’m excited, I’m positive and I can’t wait, really." The move to Stamford Bridge also reunites him with former Manchester City teammate Cole Palmer. The two first crossed paths as teenagers when Rogers left West Brom to join City’s academy, and they later shared the England youth set‑up. Their history gives them an intuitive understanding on the pitch. "I’ve seen people saying, ‘how are you going to fit them in?
How are they going to play?’" Rogers laughed. "We have completely different qualities. He’s more of a passer, a linker, a combiner.
He’s like an artist in the way he moves with the ball and plays with it. I’m more direct, more straight‑line and more physical.
We’re completely different and that offsets really well." He explained that their complementary styles have been honed since they were about 14 years old. "I’ve known his game, he’s known mine since we were what, 14? We’ve played together for England and stuff like that, so we know exactly how to play with each other and to get the best out of each other. Some people might not know what it looks like, but we do.
We’ve done it before. People will pit us against each other, but we’re on the same team now and it’s about winning and getting the best out of each other, and I think we’ll do that." Rogers also stressed the importance of their friendship off the field.
"Off the pitch always helps on the pitch – and playing with one of your closest friends always brings the best out of each other in a competitive way of wanting to kind of outdo each other. But there has to be a line – the team comes first, winning comes first, and that’s always been our biggest thing." The hefty transfer fee inevitably adds pressure, but Rogers embraces it as motivation. "This is what I live for.
These are the conversations I want to be in," he said. "I want to be the topic of discussion when talking about games I’m involved in or England selections. I want to be in those conversations – sometimes on the good end of it, sometimes on the bad end of it – but if I’m in those conversations I’m doing something right." He reflected on the summer’s buzz and his appetite for more.
"This summer I was getting into that and I was getting a taste of what it feels like. I know I’ve got a lot more to come and I like that pressure of it being on me where I’ve got the keys to decide how I’m spoken about in those conversations.
If I’ve got the kind of say in what happens and what comes next then I’ll be confident in myself to be on the right end of it." Looking ahead, Rogers believes the blend of youthful exuberance, seasoned experience, and the creative spark from players like Palmer can propel Chelsea back into the elite echelons of English and European football. The club’s new manager, fresh signings, and a renewed sense of purpose have created an environment where ambition can thrive. As Rogers put it, the journey is just beginning, and he’s eager to help write the next successful chapter in Chelsea’s storied history.