Morgan Rogers says the air was cleared with Declan Rice almost as soon as the final whistle went. The two England teammates clashed at the Emirates earlier this month during the London derby, after Arsenal's Rice tripped the Chelsea winger. Rogers reacted by shoving Rice, and Arsenal fans didn't let him forget it, jeering that he should have signed for the Gunners instead.
Despite the heated exchange, Rogers insists there's no lingering issue. "It's just competitors competing and wanting to win. London derby, me getting absolutely dog's abuse by the fans doesn't help! All emotions come into one at that moment, but Dec and I are fine," he said, quoted via The Mirror.
"We spoke about it after the game. We're completely fine. It's just one of those things in football, we want to win. That's actually a good thing - showing that we put friendships and everything aside and just want to win for our clubs and do what it takes. Sometimes tempers rise a little bit, but it's all good."
AI Memes and a Grinning Response
The clash blew up online, with AI-generated clips even depicting a fake dressing room confrontation between the pair, along with fabricated quotes doing the rounds. Rogers says he simply found the whole thing funny once it was shown to him.
"It's quite funny being sent them. AI's going to the next level now at the moment. Anything you do now can end up in anything. It's quite funny. If it's anything to do with me I just laugh about it," he said. Asked about one particular video, he grinned and asked, "Did I win?" - and once told yes, replied, "It's about right then."
Settling In at Chelsea
Rogers moved to Chelsea this summer for a reported £117 million ($156.5 million), turning down interest from Arsenal and Bayern Munich in the process. He says the timing felt right for the next step in his career, both for club and country.
"I'm happy to be at Chelsea. Enjoying the new managers' ideas, enjoying the new players, the different surroundings. I think it was time for a new challenge, a change for me, and it's come at a good time. So I'm happy and enjoying it," he said.
Chelsea's history clearly means something to him. Growing up watching the club's title-winning years under José Mourinho, with players like John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole, he now finds it striking that he could add his own name to that story.
"When they come in and there's an opportunity for me to go there, it's mind-boggling to think that I can be part of that history of that club. I'm so excited by the prospect of doing something special at that club," Rogers said. "Of course, there's still a way to go and we've got things to do, but the prospect of winning and competing at the highest level at Chelsea really caught me and I really wanted to go. That's why I'm there."
He's aware the fee brings scrutiny too. "I think people are gonna look at me differently. I think people are going to judge me on probably a higher pedestal of what I'm delivering, whether it's worth what I'm being talked about. But for me, I can't get too bogged down in that. It's just to me about playing my game, playing football. I can't control how people view me and how people look at me," he said.
Looking Back at the World Cup and Ahead With England
Rogers also reflected on his time with England, including a standout semi-final display and contributions off the bench during the World Cup, and on leaving his previous club with a Europa League final win as his farewell moment.
"For my last game to be winning the Europa League final was just the perfect way for me to end an unbelievable time in my journey. I went from someone who no one really knew about to being an established player in the Premier League, which is something I owe to that club, those players and fans for making me feel like that," he said.
He rates his enjoyment at Chelsea so far as a "ten out of ten," while admitting there's more he wants to give England. "There's still ways to go for what I want to achieve in an England shirt as well. Of course I wanted to make a bigger impact at the World Cup, you always do, and that's the good thing about football. You can always do better and do more, and that's the exciting part for me moving forward. But I was pretty happy with how I played at the World Cup, how I gave a different outlook and feel when I was on the pitch. There are some moments I can be proud on, looking back."
