Morgan Rogers Sends Clear Message To Xabi Alonso About His Role In Chelsea System | OneFootball

Preparations for the new season are beginning to conclude. Video Credit: Absolute Chelsea

Chelsea summer signing Morgan Rogers insists he doesn't really have a preferred position and believes it has become one of his strengths.

The 24-year-old joined Chelsea from Aston Villa this summer on a club-record £117 million deal.

There is, of course, high expectation for him to deliver in his debut season at Stamford Bridge and for Xabi Alonso to get the best out of the club’s most expensive signing.

One thing that could help a player excel is playing him in his favourite position, but Rogers claimed he does not really have one.

“I can play in a number of positions, and that's probably a strength of mine,” the England international told Chelsea’s in-house media.

“I can adapt and give managers a different outlook on different positions. I've always grown up being that way.

“Understanding the game, learning the game, and enjoying it and loving it as much as I do, I never wanted to be bogged down to one position or one attribute. Being versatile helps me.”

Despite Rogers’ versatility, there is still an area on the pitch where he thrives: the left pocket, between opposition midfield and backline.

In Alonso’s 3-4-2-1 structure, the left-side number 10 role behind the striker likely suits him the most.

This position puts him exactly where he can create chances or drift wide to create space for the other number 10, Cole Palmer.

Rogers was only involved in one pre-season game for Chelsea due to his extended break after the 2026 World Cup, but this is the position he played in last week’s 3-1 win over Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge.

He also scored his first unofficial goal for Chelsea from close range, just nine minutes into the game.

In a more conventional 4-2-3-1 formation, Rogers can access the left pocket by playing as a number 10 or a left winger. These are the positions where he played most of his minutes at Villa. But he also played as a right winger and even as a centre-forward under Unai Emery.

Interestingly, Rogers also added that, unlike many attackers, he is not obsessed with numbers.

“Whatever role I'm given and whatever the manager and other players want from me, I'm going to do to the best of my ability,” he explained.

“I’m not a player that gets bogged down having to be the guy to score or assist.”

Versatile Rogers benefits Palmer and Joao Pedro

The 14 goals and 12 assists he bagged for Villa last season are quite impressive for a player who is not fixated on output.

From Rogers’ 10 goals in the Premier League last season, one was from the six-yard box, six from the penalty area, and three from outside the box. He scored eight of these with his right foot and two with his left.

This shows how well-rounded Rogers is as an attacker, and why, as he pointed out, his flexible play style gives him an advantage on the pitch.

Joao Pedro, who is expected to be Chelsea’s first-choice number nine, is also known for his tendency to drift to the left side of the pitch.

Rogers’ versatility allows him to switch positions with the Brazil international and drag defenders out of position.

Unfortunately, we have not seen more of the front three of Rogers, Palmer, and Joao Pedro in pre-season, but on paper, it is a very exciting trio.

These three are expected to start in Chelsea’s season-opening game against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Monday, August 24.