Morgan Rogers has praised Fulham for their attacking quality after making an immediate impact on his Chelsea debut in a thrilling 3-2 victory at Craven Cottage on Monday night.
The England international marked his first competitive appearance for Chelsea with a goal as Xabi Alonso began his reign with a hard-fought win in the opening round of the 2026/27 Premier League season.
Rogers restored Chelsea’s advantage in the 41st minute after Joshua King had cancelled out João Pedro’s stunning 31-second opener.
Cole Palmer later added Chelsea’s third before Fulham debutant Gonzalo García pulled another goal back, setting up a tense finish in the west London derby. Chelsea ultimately held on to claim all three points.
Reflecting on an entertaining contest, Rogers admitted he thoroughly enjoyed the occasion, particularly given the nature of the fixture and his personal contribution.
“Both teams going for it, attacking football, that’s what the Premier League is about. And for a first game as a debut in the derby and to score, I’m really happy. It’s a really nice moment.”
Morgan Rogers
The 23-year-old was also pleased with how he handled the pressure surrounding his first appearance following his record-breaking move from Aston Villa.
Rogers joined Chelsea for £117 million in July, making him the most expensive British player in football history. He signed a seven-year contract and arrived as one of Alonso’s major attacking additions.
Rogers Keeps His Composure
Rogers’ goal came after a quick Chelsea move opened space inside the Fulham penalty area. Maxence Lacroix supplied the final pass before Rogers calmly finished to put the visitors back in front.
Describing the goal, Rogers highlighted the importance of remaining composed rather than rushing the finish. “It was a great team move on the right and as I saw it open up, I just wanted to get into the box,” he explained. “When it fell to me, I just had to keep my composure. I didn’t want to get too excited too early and luckily it went in.”
His goal was only part of an impressive debut. Rogers created five scoring chances against Fulham, the highest total by any player during the opening weekend of the Premier League campaign.
He also became the first Chelsea player since the 2003/04 season to create five chances on his Premier League debut for the club, according to Opta.
The performance provided an early indication of why Chelsea were willing to make such a significant investment in the former Aston Villa forward.
Fulham Earn Rogers’ Respect
Despite Chelsea taking the points, Rogers was quick to acknowledge the threat posed by Fulham, who are beginning a new era under manager Álvaro Arbeloa. “They’re a really good team. They have a really good style, new manager, and they play out from the back,” Rogers said.
He also stressed that playing at Craven Cottage has traditionally been difficult for Premier League visitors and expected Fulham to create opportunities throughout the contest.
“It’s always tough coming to Fulham. They’re going to get their moments, of course. It’s about who has the bigger moments and who is more clinical, and it was us in the end.”
Morgan Rogers
Chelsea’s attacking quality ultimately proved decisive, with João Pedro, Rogers and Palmer all finding the net.
For Rogers, however, the immediate priority was enjoying a memorable beginning to life for Stamford Bridge outfit.
After arriving under enormous expectations, he responded with a goal, five chances created and a winning debut. Chelsea will now look to build on that result as Alonso begins the task of shaping his side into genuine Premier League contenders.
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