Morgan Rogers: We Did Not Let Arsenal Take Control, and We Matched Them Physically

In the third round of the Premier League, Chelsea lost 1-2 away to Arsenal. Chelsea attacker Morgan Rogers, who scored in the match, accepted an interview with the club's official media.

Morgan, first of all, this is obviously a disappointing result. How do you assess the team's performance today?

I think there were periods when we performed very well and showed a lot of positive signs. We tried to play in our own style and show our way of playing in such an away match. The opponents are in excellent form at the moment, and it is very difficult to beat them here.

We did show some very good aspects during the match. Of course, there are also areas that need improvement. Usually, when you do not win a game, you focus on those issues. But overall, there were positives from this match as well as things to reflect on. We will go back, review the game, analyze the situations and different choices, and then move forward.

The team started with great intensity, and it was ultimately finished off by your goal. Was it always the plan to get into the game so quickly like this?

Of course. When you play here, you have to start like that. At the beginning of the match, the home fans created a very intense atmosphere and were fully invested. From the first moments, everything felt tense and full of pressure.

But that is exactly what you want to do in an away game, not just here but at any away ground. You need to calm that atmosphere down as quickly as possible. Fortunately, we did that and managed to find our rhythm in the opening stages.

Facing the Premier League champions and being able to compete with them directly, how much confidence can you take from that? There was a period in the first half when the game was very open and went back and forth, right?

I think the most important thing is that we did not let them take control. As you said, we matched them physically and remained focused and alert mentally throughout the match.

That is actually the most difficult part of coming here to face Arsenal. Their physical intensity is extremely high and playing against them is difficult, but in that aspect we matched them and perhaps were even slightly better.

Maybe they were better than us in terms of their quality and decision-making around the penalty area. They scored two goals and we did not. Ultimately, if we had done better in those areas, the game could have had a completely different outcome, but there are also other aspects where we can continue to improve.

Football can be like that sometimes. You may try to pick apart every detail of a match and analyze everything, but it is not always necessary because sometimes you simply lose a game, and that is all. We cannot be too disappointed because of that. We keep moving forward and everything will get better.

What can you learn from matches like this?

Of course, we can learn from them. They are the champions, and we also hope to achieve that kind of success in the league. So you watch how they perform, see what they do, and hope to compete with them, match them, and use it to test where you currently stand.

I think we did that across all areas of the pitch. I cannot point to any player on the field and say that we did not match them in some aspect of the game or did not compete with them directly. So I think that is a very positive thing we can take from this match.

Finally, what would you like to say to the fans who came again today and gave the team such great support?

Unbelievable. They make away matches so special. They always create that unique feeling, and today was no different. Even after the match, when we were preparing to go over and acknowledge them, so many of them were still in the stands. I know that when the team does not win and the result is disappointing, it can also be difficult for the fans. But every player on the pitch gave everything, we always try to do that for the supporters, and they give us the same support in return. So that feeling is truly special.