Joe Cole: Morgan Rogers Is an Absolute Beast, I Underestimated Him Before

Although disappointed by the derby defeat, former Chelsea winger Cole expressed optimism about the way Alonso's team has looked at the start of the season. He also strongly praised Morgan Rogers and admitted that he had previously underestimated the player. However, Cole is concerned that Chelsea failed to find a replacement for Enzo Fernandez before the transfer deadline, leaving some weaknesses in the midfield setup.

“Chelsea are very exciting to watch right now. I went to Stamford Bridge for the game against Brighton, and the attacking trio of Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer, and Joao Pedro was full of energy and really gave people something to look forward to,” Cole said on a video programme.

“Moises Caicedo's injury has had some negative impact. Romeo Lavia is a good player, but he seems unable to stay fit for long periods of time.”

“Whether it is Reece James or Malo Gusto, whoever fills in as a midfielder cannot reach the level of Enzo Fernandez and Caicedo.”

I think Arsenal had a slight advantage in midfield, which also helped them gradually take control of the match, but Chelsea still had many positive aspects.

Cole Palmer's performances last season were frustrating, and he was even left out of Tuchel's World Cup squad. Seeing the England star enjoy his football again now has made Cole very pleased.

The three-time Premier League winner was also impressed by Rogers' early performances wearing a Chelsea shirt.

“Palmer has transformed this summer, and he is now very smooth in his play,” Cole added.

“Morgan Rogers is an absolute beast, I underestimated him before. I knew he was a top player, but when you look at his first touch, it is decisive and clean, instantly raising the tempo of the game.”

“From Chelsea's perspective, the recruitment work in this summer window has been very good overall, and the squad looks more stable. Alonso will keep improving as a manager, and we have a large number of excellent players.”

“But there is one concern: I think there is still a gap in midfield, and this issue must be solved.”

“One thing I do appreciate is that the team did not lose its composure because it failed to sign its top target, Monaco's Lamine Camara, and did not just buy someone randomly to fill the gap.”

“To sign a player of that level, the transfer fee would need to reach £40-50 million, and Chelsea cannot afford another recruitment mistake.”

“I can accept having limited midfield options for the next two or three months. I would rather be temporarily short of players and wait for the truly right option.”

Speaking about new signing Maxence Lacroix, Cole continued: “I think this signing has been very successful.”

“It has been a long time since we had a summer window like this... Lacroix is a very good centre-back, and he has genuinely improved our defensive strength.”

Wesley Fofana performed poorly against Arsenal, and many fans called for the French defender to be rested for the next Premier League match against in-form Hull City.

Discussing Fofana's inconsistent performances, Cole said: “Fofana's difficulties come from a lack of consistent appearances.”

“When you suffer from injuries that require long-term management, playing football becomes extremely difficult. Ledley King's situation back then was a typical example.”

“At the end of my career, my body had suffered a lot of wear and tear, and I could only complete two training sessions a week at most. For players like Fofana and Ledley King, when injuries arrive early, they are greatly affected. Players must rely on training to maintain their competitive condition.”