Morgan Rogers capable of emulating Bruno Fernandes but Chelsea’s relaxed schedule an undeniable hindrance

ONLY two midfielders earned more Dream Team points than Morgan Rogers (£5m) last season: Dominik Szoboszlai (£6m) and Antoine Semenyo (£6m). The England international has been a top-tier asset in recent times but managers may have to reassess his status ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. PLAY DREAM TEAM NOW: £100,000 PRIZE POT! Rogers faces a new challenge this season Credit: Getty The 24-year-old’s ability is beyond doubt. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! He scored 14 goals and registered 13 assists on his way to 310 points last season. Six midfielders scored more goals than Rogers but none of them reached double figures for assists. Similarly, three midfielders provided more assists than Rogers but the top goalscorer among them, Rayan Cherki (£5m), finished on ten. There are many ways to earn points in Dream Team but the quickest way to rack up a mammoth total is regular goal contributions and Xabi Alonso’s marquee signing is among the cream of the crop in this regard. However, there are two factors that may hinder his viability. Chelsea will not participate in Europe this season Credit: Getty Firstly, his £117million transfer from Aston Villa to Chelsea represents a significant change of environment. Most read in Football It’s not quite as unsettling as moving from one country to another – he is a proven Premier League performer – but the relative comfort of Villa Park and Unai Emery’s stewardship is in contrast to the ever-shifting dynamics at Stamford Bridge. The revolving door in West London is busy with players and managers alike and while some players thrive amid the chaos, others flounder. The appointment of Alonso has been well received generally and many fans are hoping the Spanish tactician can bring stability and success to the Blues as he did at Bayer Leverkusen. However, his subsequent seven-month stint at Real Madrid is a blot on his managerial record. Pre-season has been a mixed bag and Dream Team bosses will have to wait and see how Alonso fares once the competitive action gets underway later this month. Play Dream Team this season! £100,000 in prize money up for grabs in 2026/27 Free to enter Play in Mini Leagues against your mates £60,000 jackpot for the overall winner £1,000 prize for winning Gameweek 1 PLAY DREAM TEAM NOW! Alonso is the latest man tasked with bringing stability to Stamford Bridge Credit: Getty The second spanner in the works for Rogers is his reduced schedule. His move from the Villains to Chelsea has stripped him of Champions League commitments. Under Liam Rosenior’s watch, Cole Palmer (£5m) and company slipped to 10th at the end of the 2025/26 campaign, having lost as many league games as they won (14). This lacklustre finish means Chelsea are not among the NINE Premier League clubs set to compete in Europe this coming season. This won’t impact Rogers in August but he may struggle to keep pace with the game’s top midfielders once the double Gameweeks start coming thick and fast. Rogers won the Europa League in May but won’t play in the Champions League this season Credit: Getty A comparatively relaxed schedule doesn’t render Rogers null and void — many gaffers made excellent use of Bruno Fernandes (£7m) last season despite the fact Manchester United played the fewest fixtures possible. But managers must take the fixture deficit into account when making their strategic decisions. Rogers currently features in 11.6% of teams. Open to residents of UK and Rep of Ireland, 18+ only. T&Cs apply. Comment now