Morgan Rogers has said it is still "mind-boggling" to play for Chelsea and has rated his time at the club a "10 out of 10" so far, declaring this the best period of his career. The England international gave a wide-ranging interview while on international duty, covering his altercation with Declan Rice and joking that he is pleased for a break from club and country team-mate Cole Palmer after Palmer withdrew from the squad on Monday.
Record signing on expectations
Rogers became Chelsea's club-record signing this summer when he joined for £117m from Aston Villa. He believes England fans will expect more from him now that he carries that price tag. "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."
Asked how he, Palmer and Joao Pedro are coping with the pressure of leading Chelsea's charge this season, Rogers said: "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."
Rating his time at Chelsea
Rogers was 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.
Why he left Aston Villa
Rogers explained why he decided to leave Villa this summer and why he chose 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," he said. "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."
He added: "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."
Declan Rice altercation
Rogers was clipped by Rice earlier this 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."
