Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has expressed confidence that new signing Morgan Rogers will play a key role in improving the team, describing the England international as an outstanding addition capable of making the Blues more competitive.
Speaking ahead of his first game in charge, Alonso said he was delighted to welcome the 23 year old midfielder to Stamford Bridge after Chelsea completed his £117 million move from Aston Villa, a transfer that set a new record for a British player.
The Spaniard said Rogers was exactly the type of player Chelsea needed, insisting there were very few footballers available who could offer the same level of quality and versatility.
The signing is seen as a major statement of intent from Chelsea following a disappointing Premier League campaign that ended with a tenth place finish and no qualification for European competition.
With attacking talents such as Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Estevao Willian and fellow summer signing Geovany Quenda already in the squad, Alonso admitted the challenge will be finding the right balance while making the most of each player’s strengths.
He believes Rogers and Palmer can build an exciting partnership on the pitch, pointing out that the pair have similar playing styles and are already close friends away from football.
According to Alonso, creating the right mix between disciplined players and those given more attacking freedom will be vital to Chelsea’s progress. He said placing his creative players in positions where they can perform naturally will help the team become stronger both in possession and without the ball.
Chelsea had reportedly tracked Rogers for the past two years before finally completing the deal, beating Arsenal to his signature after Villa’s valuation proved too high for the Premier League champions.
The transfer also eclipsed the previous British record fee, which had been set earlier this month when Manchester City signed England midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million.
Alonso also praised Rogers for his versatility, describing it as one of the midfielder’s greatest strengths. He noted that Rogers is comfortable operating behind the striker, on the right flank or from the left, where he believes the player is particularly effective.
The Chelsea boss said his priority is to use Rogers in the role where he feels most confident, allowing him to build strong connections with teammates and bring greater creativity to the side’s attacking play.
Although Rogers is not part of Chelsea’s pre season tour of Australia after helping England finish third at the World Cup, Alonso is convinced the midfielder will make a significant impact once he joins up with the squad.
Chelsea begin their preparations under Alonso with a friendly against Western Sydney Wanderers before taking on Tottenham Hotspur in Sydney. The team will then travel to Hong Kong for another pre season fixture against Juventus on August 5.
