Morgan Rogers made an instant impact on his Premier League debut for Chelsea, scoring in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage, and the forward believes he has yet to hit his peak form. The £117 million signing from Aston Villa netted his side's second goal shortly before half-time, capping off a promising evening for new manager Xabi Alonso in his first match at the helm since taking charge of the Blues.
Rogers, who featured for 82 minutes, was making his first competitive appearance since England's dramatic World Cup third-place playoff triumph over France five weeks earlier. Despite the lengthy gap since his last match, he showed no signs of rustiness as he combined effectively with Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro in a fluid, attacking display that suggested exciting potential for Chelsea's front line.
Reflecting on his performance, Rogers explained the effort he put in to ensure he was ready for the step up. "Coming to a new team, you don't want to come in sluggish and off the pace, so I tried to keep myself in the best shape as possible and I've tried to get up to speed as quickly as I can," he said. He added that he still has room to improve further as the season progresses. "I still think there are more gears to go, and I've got to try and find them as quickly as possible because the games are coming thick and fast."
The match itself was a rollercoaster of emotions for both sides. Chelsea burst into an early lead when Joao Pedro scored just 31 seconds into the contest, but Fulham hit back through Josh King after a costly error from goalkeeper Robert Sanchez allowed the hosts to level. Rogers then restored Chelsea's advantage before half-time, and Palmer added a third to give the visitors a two-goal cushion.
However, the west London derby was not without concern for Alonso, as his side once again struggled defensively. Fulham debutant Gonzalo Garcia capitalized on another mistake from Sanchez to pull one back, highlighting ongoing issues at the back for the Blues. Despite the nervy finish, Chelsea held on for the win, giving their new manager a positive start to his tenure.
Rogers praised the atmosphere and quality of the contest despite the defensive lapses. "It was a great game to play in," he said. "I thought the quality of our play was excellent and it was so enjoyable out there. Fulham is a difficult place to come to, and they played really well, but we had that fight, that grit and I think we were the better team on the night."
The result has reignited discussion over Chelsea's goalkeeping situation, with Sanchez again at fault for a costly error. Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher was particularly critical of the Spanish goalkeeper's performance, stating bluntly that Chelsea's title ambitions would remain unattainable with him between the posts. "Chelsea will never win the league with Sanchez in goal," Carragher said. "Impossible. It can't happen."
Despite the defensive frailties, the emergence of a potent attacking trio in Rogers, Palmer, and Joao Pedro offers Alonso plenty of encouragement as he begins to shape his squad. With more matches on the horizon in quick succession, Rogers' warning that he has more to offer will be welcome news for Chelsea supporters hoping for a strong start to the new era.
Based on reporting from Independent (football).