How a Fortunate FA Cup Draw Transformed Morgan Rogers Into Aston Villa’s Top Transfer Target for Unai Emery, by TOM COLLOMOSSE

• The villa manager was fanatical in his pursuit to secure the boro player during the previous season.
• The transfer has yielded benefits, as Rogers is now attracting attention from the English national team as well.
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In football, hardly anything remains confidential. Each kick, pass, and tackle gets recorded by numerous scouting systems, providing teams with an overwhelming amount of data.

Still, there are those who manage to evade the notice of even the keenest observers.

When Thomas Tuchel was appointed England Last October, as manager, he was well-versed in almost every player – with one significant exception.

Tuchel had noticed glimpses of Morgan Rogers during this season and the previous one, but it wasn’t until he took his place at Villa Park last January, before Aston Villa’s match, that he truly observed him. Champions League clash with Celtic , that he finally understood what all the excitement was regarding.

When it comes to making an impression, netting a hat-trick in front of a new national leader is quite effective. However, it wasn’t just Rogers' triple goal feat that grabbed Tuchel’s attention. The young 22-year-old possesses exceptional skills in carrying the ball and can endure tough tackles with his sturdy frame. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches tall with a strong physique, he moves like a formidable rugby league athlete. Additionally, he excels greatly in terms of feel for the game, foresight, and final execution.

"What a player," Tuchel reportedly exclaimed every time Rogers was brought up following that performance. As expected, Tuchel included Rogers in his initial lineup, and throughout the training session, his appreciation for him intensified.

Tuchel was impressed by how swiftly Rogers took in his guidance and maintained a calm demeanor within the English setup, even though he was relatively new to it.

One can easily picture Rogers playing beside his good mates Cole Palmer and Jude Bellingham in Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel’s preferred lineup as England kicks off their World Cup journey next year. Rogers hails from Halesowen, which sits just six miles away from Stourbridge, the birthplace of Bellingham. These young men from the West Midlands initially encountered each other in regional games before forming a strong bond.

Rogers previously referred to Bellingham, who is one year his junior, as 'little bro' on social media, and their families get along well. When Rogers played for the national team at the senior level last November, Bellingham shared an image of them both as kids, sporting England jerseys.

The match against Crystal Palace on Saturday presents Rodgers with an opportunity to showcase his skills under intense scrutiny. Securing a victory would propel Villa into their first FA Cup final since 2015 and place them tantalizingly close to clinching their first significant title since 1996.

If Rogers scores, he will do his well-known 'shivering' celebration, which was popularized by Palmer. This gesture draws from the slang term 'cold,' used by Generation Z to express agreement or admiration. According to Rogers, he originated this expression during their time in the youth system at Manchester City, long before Palmer started using it. In jest, Rogers has mentioned potentially suing his buddy for employing it without giving him credit. Additionally, Paris Saint-Germain’s talented youngster Desire Doue has taken up this celebratory move as well.

This demonstrates how swiftly Rogers is scaling the heights. Palmer's talents were recognized by the broader football community primarily after his move to Chelsea, which occurred just under two years ago. Rogers transferred to Villa from Middlesbrough in February 2024. In an era dominated by data analysis and statistical evaluation in player scouting, this signing stands out as a victory for traditional talent assessment methods.

If Villa hadn't been paired with Boro in the third round of the FA Cup, one can only wonder about Rogers' current position.

He had joined the Championship team from City just the prior summer and was still attempting to secure a consistent spot in Michael Carrick’s lineup.

When Aston Villa manager Unai Emery turned on his laptop to analyze Middlesbrough’s latest matches, excitement flashed across his face. Emery feels that adaptability is crucial for forwards nowadays, and he noticed that Ryan Shotton has been impressively flexible, playing efficiently on either wing, in the playmaker role behind the striker, and even leading from the center-forward spot.

Before that match, Rogers was such a frequent focus during the team's video analysis sessions that Emery's players started wondering if their manager's interest went beyond what appeared on the surface.

After Villa secured a 1-0 victory, some players went up to Rogers to convey Emery’s excitement. “He continually speaks about you,” they told him. By February 1st, Rogers had signed with Villa for £8.5 million—a remarkable deal largely due to the fortunate outcome of events. During his approximately 15-month tenure at Villa Park, he achieved an impressive tally of 17 goals and 14 assists across 65 matches.

Emery considers Rogers to be one of his most intelligent players. He appreciates how the forward absorbs directions, typically provided in Emery’s training-ground office through a laptop, swiftly and effortlessly.

Regardless of whether he operates on the right wing, left wing, or centrally as a forward, Rogers is an essential component within Aston Villa’s offensive strategy. When the team initiates attacks from defense, he drifts away from the flanks to collect passes and facilitate linking up plays. Despite needing refinement in his heading accuracy and choices when facing his own goal, Rogers continues to show promising development.

Coaches Mark Harrison and Steve Hopcroft, who previously mentored Rogers during his time as a youth player at West Bromwich Albion, assisted him in adjusting to new surroundings. However, it was Rogers' vibrant personality that truly made the difference. Among others, he managed to create a connection with former striker Jhon Duran, known for being somewhat complicated off the field. Additionally, Rogers played an instrumental role in helping both Marcus Rashford and Donyell Malen settle into their environment.

Rogers enjoys robust familial backing. His sibling, Daniel Belgrave, holds a Master’s degree in counseling and psychotherapy and has previously collaborated with both Chelsea and Tottenham. Guided by their other brother, Ash Belgrave, Rogers underwent individual training sessions in Miami and the Algarve during the past summer. Additionally, he employed a private chef for personalized meal preparation. The path leading him from his early days at the junior team Halas Hawks, where he was identified at age five, all the way to the prestigious Champions League stage hasn’t always been straightforward. Nonetheless, Rogers is proving that he merits his place among elite footballing circles today.

Last November, Rogers received a substantial contract extension along with a considerable salary boost, just under a year since his transfer from Boro. Another raise appears likely this year if he keeps up his outstanding performances, particularly as European clubs become increasingly interested in England’s rising star. Winning the PFA Young Player of the Year award seems quite achievable, especially if Villa clinch a title at the end of the season.

Being an avid cricket enthusiast and a skilled young player, Rogers understands the importance of benchmarks. His upcoming match will mark his 50th appearance this season for Villa. Despite continually raising the standards, Rogers acknowledges that anything can happen when Tuchel observes from the sidelines again on Saturday.

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