Chelsea manager talks about the signing of new player Morgan Rodgers

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso praised the team's newly signed 23-year-old England striker Morgan Rodgers at the pre-season tour press conference.

Alonso stated that Rogers is a heavyweight signing and that he has developed a clear tactical plan to unleash the full potential of Rogers and his friend Cole Palmer.

Brendan Rodgers officially joined Chelsea from Aston Villa last week, signing an eight-year contract. He is currently on holiday after helping England win third place at the 2026 World Cup and has not yet joined the team for pre-season tours in Australia and Asia.

When discussing the transfer, Alonso was full of praise: "It was absolutely a great signing. We needed a heavyweight player in that position, and there were almost no better options on the market at the time."

"Rogers' greatest strength is his versatility. He can play as a number 10 or a shadow forward, and he can also play on both the left and right wings with ease."

Rodgers previously played for Aston Villa for two and a half years, winning the Europa League title and gaining 85 Premier League appearances. Alonso is confident about this: "When we're planning to build a team, we need top players who can be plugged in immediately. I'm sure Morgan won't need much time to adapt to the new system and teammates."

Furthermore, Rodgers and key player Cole Palmer have forged a deep friendship since they were 14 years old while playing together in the national youth team. Regarding the pairing of these two new England stars, Alonso revealed, "I already have a plan in mind; they will have excellent synergy."

"As long as we put these special players in the right positions and find the balance between possession and off the ball, Chelsea will be very competitive in the new season."

Image source: Internet/Chelsea official website