{"id":20356,"date":"2026-07-23T07:08:31","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T07:08:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=20356"},"modified":"2026-07-23T07:08:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T07:08:31","slug":"new-chelsea-star-morgan-rogers-is-already-better-than-xabi-alonsos-116m-success-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=20356","title":{"rendered":"New Chelsea star Morgan Rogers is already better than Xabi Alonso’s \u00a3116m success story"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"\"\/ Add as preferred source on Google<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The pressure is now on Morgan Rogers to deliver in a Chelsea shirt after BlueCo gave Xabi Alonso the green light and Behdad Eghbali negotiated a \u00a3117m deal for the England star.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The most expensive Englishman to play the game, Rogers has eclipsed Elliot Anderson\u2019s \u00a3116m move to Man City after signing on the dotted line. He has put pen to paper on a six-year deal with an option.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
<\/header>\n
\n
\n
\n

Who would you rather Chelsea sign, John Stones or Maxence Lacroix?<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
\n
\"John<\/div>
Photo by Chris Arjoon\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Only Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Alexander Isak have cost more than Rogers. Chelsea have done their job; now it is on Rogers to deliver and prove to Chelsea fans that he is worth that big lump of cash.<\/p>\n

How can he do that? Well, Alonso needs to find a place in this Chelsea side that suits him best. The new Chelsea gaffer has spoken about building the team around Cole Palmer, but now it\u2019s about both.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Manager<\/div>
Photo by Darren Walsh\/Chelsea FC via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But Alonso has a track record for getting the best out of his attacking players, improving them and churning out stunning numbers. Just look at Florian Wirtz, having gone from good to great under Alonso.<\/p>\n

Morgan Rogers is already better than Liverpool\u2019s Florian Wirtz<\/h2>\n

Wirtz came good under the guidance of Alonso, and ultimately it was the former Anfield midfielder who earned Leverkusen a \u00a3116m payday. The amount of cash paid for Wirtz was because of Alonso\u2019s magic.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Florian<\/div>
Photo by Catherine Ivill \u2013 AMA\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For Alonso to thrive, he needs magic in transition, and that is what both Rogers and Palmer bring. They can produce genius from very little, finding gaps and pockets of space impossible for defenders to stop.<\/p>\n

Wirtz did it at Leverkusen, and now Rogers is tasked with doing it at Chelsea. The difference? Alonso does not need to wait for Rogers to thrive; he already has a better player in Rogers than he did with Wirtz.<\/p>\n

Last season\u2019s stats in the Premier League prove as much. Following Wirtz\u2019s move to Liverpool, costing the Reds \u00a31m less than Rogers\u2019 fee, the German failed to supply the numbers he had done in the Bundesliga.<\/p>\n

2025\/26 Premier League Attacking Stats Comparison<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Attacking Metric<\/strong><\/td>\nMorgan Rogers (Aston Villa)<\/strong><\/td>\nFlorian Wirtz (Liverpool)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Appearances (Starts)<\/strong><\/td>\n37 (37)<\/strong><\/td>\n33 (27)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Minutes Played<\/strong><\/td>\n3,280<\/strong><\/td>\n2,378<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Goals<\/strong><\/td>\n10<\/strong><\/td>\n5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Assists<\/strong><\/td>\n6<\/strong><\/td>\n3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total Goal Involvements (G+A)<\/strong><\/td>\n16<\/strong><\/td>\n8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total Shots<\/strong><\/td>\n84<\/strong><\/td>\n51<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shots on Target<\/strong><\/td>\n32<\/strong><\/td>\n18<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shot Accuracy %<\/strong><\/td>\n38.1%<\/strong><\/td>\n35.3%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chances Created (Key Passes)<\/strong><\/td>\n52<\/td>\n57<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Touches in Opponent Box<\/strong><\/td>\n175<\/strong><\/td>\n159<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total Touches<\/strong><\/td>\n1,782<\/td>\n1,863<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

How will Chelsea play with both Rogers and Palmer starting?<\/h2>\n

While Palmer will remain the focal point of Alonso\u2019s Chelsea side, they would not have signed a player for \u00a3117m without assuring him he will be first choice. In talks, Rogers was told he will start on the left flank.<\/p>\n

Alonso used a 4-2-3-1 system against Crawley on Saturday, and in such a system, Rogers and Palmer can easily combine with Pedro Neto, Estevao or Geovany Quenda on the right. Joao Pedro will lead the line.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/header>\n
\n
\n
\n

With his best mate Morgan Rogers announced, how many goals and assists does Cole Palmer get this season?\ud83d\udc40<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
\n
\"Aston<\/div>
Photo by Catherine Ivill \u2013 AMA\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

But Alonso has options. A 3-4-2-1 system, like he used in Germany, would allow Chelsea to play Palmer and Rogers as dual 10s. Marcelo Bielsa\u2019s Leeds system saw them play with four attacking midfielders.<\/p>\n

Two banks of five, that instead of the three in a 4-2-3-1, was simply a four behind a striker. Again, that would allow Palmer and Rogers to play centrally, but it would also leave Moises Caicedo exposed.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
<\/svg><\/p>\n
Join Our Newsletter<\/span><\/p>\n

Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n