Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has made it clear that he intends to find a way to get both Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers into his team, insisting that the two attacking players are capable of playing in several midfield roles.
Speaking during an interview, Alonso said he is more interested in proving Chelsea’s ambitions on the pitch than making big promises about what the club will achieve.
“For me it’s not to tell people what to expect, it’s to show, to deliver. Words are really cheap,” Alonso said.
The Spanish manager added that Palmer and Rogers can both operate as a number 10 or move deeper into a number 8 role, giving him several tactical options as he prepares Chelsea for the new season.
“Show me, don’t tell me. Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers can both play No. 10. They can both play No. 8,” he said.
The comments are significant because both players are naturally suited to attacking positions, raising questions about how Alonso will fit them into the same starting XI.
Rogers joined Chelsea from Aston Villa in a British-record £117 million transfer this summer. The 23-year-old has been reunited with Palmer, his former Manchester City youth-team colleague and close friend. Chelsea confirmed that Rogers signed a contract running until 2033.
Alonso had already indicated that he had a plan to use Rogers alongside Palmer, describing the England international as a versatile player who can operate in the space behind the striker.
The manager now appears willing to use that versatility to create different combinations in midfield and attack rather than treating Palmer and Rogers as rivals for the same position.
Rogers has also made an encouraging start to life at Stamford Bridge, scoring on his Chelsea debut during a 3-1 pre-season victory over Real Sociedad.
Chelsea will begin the 2026/27 Premier League season under Alonso after finishing 10th in the last campaign. The club will open its league campaign against Fulham on August 24.
