Cole Palmer: Why Differences With Morgan Rogers Will Complement Chelsea Partnership | OneFootball

It took a club record fee of £117m to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa. Video Credit: Absolute Chelsea

Cole Palmer believes he and new teammate Morgan Rogers complement each other’s play style on the pitch at Chelsea.

Rogers joined the Blues on a club-record £117 million deal from Aston Villa earlier this month.

The 24-year-old is expected to be one of Chelsea’s primary creative outlets this season, but Palmer has been the top dog in the team’s attack in the past few years.

Both are primarily number 10s who like to drift to wider areas on the pitch; Palmer to the right and Rogers to the left.

Despite the similarities, however, Palmer argued that they play quite differently on the pitch.

“I think we’re two different players,” Palmer said in a press conference in Australia on Friday when asked about Rogers.

“He’s more physical than me on and off the ball. He likes to drive with it. I like to play passes.

“Yeah, I think we can play well together, and we played together when we were young anyway (at Manchester City's academy).”

Two very versatile number 10s

The pair’s versatility is also a key factor in why they should be able to play well together.

Both Rogers and Palmer are fully capable of playing as wingers. When Palmer occupies the centre of the pitch, Rogers could easily play wider, and vice versa.

That said, Palmer is more likely to continue playing as a number 10, given that Rogers’ ability to drive with the ball makes him more suitable to taking on fullbacks in one-on-one situations.

To put it into perspective, Palmer completed 0.8 dribbles per game in the Premier League last season, while Rogers made 1.1 successful attempts per game.

Palmer is 'feeling good' ahead of the new season, and Rogers' arrival has lifted spirits even higher. REUTERS

Chelsea also have fewer options on the left wing compared to on the right.

Jamie Gittens is currently the only natural left winger in the team. On the other side of the pitch, manager Xabi Alonso has Estevao Willian, Pedro Neto, and Geovany Quenda at his disposal.

Rogers has also had more experience playing up front, which could prove useful since Chelsea’s first-choice striker, Joao Pedro, likes to roam to the left side of the pitch too.

Unfortunately, the fans will still have to wait to see Palmer and Rogers play together in Chelsea blue, since the latter is still on extended leave after representing England at the World Cup.

Rogers is set to miss all five games of Chelsea’s pre-season tour of Australia and Asia.

It also remains unclear whether he will be available for the friendly against Spanish side Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge on August 15.

Palmer, on the other hand, has been in pre-season mode under Alonso and is expected to start in Saturday’s friendly against Tottenham Hotspur at Accor Stadium in Sydney, Australia.

Chelsea will also play Juventus, AC Milan, and Johor Darul Ta’zim as part of their pre-season tour of Asia.