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Morgan Rogers was absolutely sensational for Chelsea on Saturday afternoon as the Blues star opened the scoring against Man United – and Joe Cole admits he was wrong about the £117m man.
That’s now 10 goals and assists in 12 games since completing a British record move to West London. Rogers has equalled the number of goal involvements as Mason Mount has at Man United in 80 games.
Obviously, Rogers thrives when Chelsea play well. But this is a player already taking on a leadership role since he arrived at the club, taking games by the scruff of the neck. It’s more than just goals and assists.
It was a moment of pure magic, one of those goals that looks as if time stands still, but the player on the ball is unaffected. He danced through United’s defence and chipped the ball to perfection into the net.
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Rogers is one of four players to reach 10 goals and assists in his first 12 Chelsea appearances, alongside Diego Costa (9), Cesc Fabregas (10), and Eden Hazard (11). Cole admits he had underrated Rogers.
The former Chelsea winger believes he undervalued the club’s record signing, admitting as much live on TNT Sports on Saturday. He said: “I’m guilty of not realising how good a player he is. He is a top player.
“You see the performance today, the goal, he shrugs people aside. His strength, his ability, his quality, he’s a fantastic footballer,” Cole continued, having watched on at Stamford Bridge during the 2-0 victory.
Imagine an attack that had Cole on the right flank, and Rogers on the left? Cole clocked up a whopping 282 games for Chelsea, a mere 270 more than Rogers has managed so far. He had a hand in 86 goals.
Cole is a Blues legend, winning three Premier League titles, three FA Cups, a League Cup and almost the Champions League. While Rogers’ rate of goals and assists is impressive, he’s a long way behind Cole.
But if Rogers can keep his form up, he will have 141 goals to his name and about 90 assists under his belt. If he does that, he will become one of the best players in Chelsea’s history, and a cabinet full of silverware.
With Emi Martinez, Reece James, Maxence Lacroix and Joao Pedro all injured, Rogers needs to become a leader in this team at the moment, at least on the pitch. On Saturday, he showed he can do exactly that.