Morgan Rogers has revealed that Chelsea teammate Joao Pedro’s constant moaning in training was in the back of his mind when he chipped Senne Lammens to score in the 2-0 win over Manchester United.
The England international broke the deadlock five minutes into the second half at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Romeo Lavia won the ball off Bryan Mbeumo, and Rogers drove through a static United defence before lifting a delicate finish over Lammens.
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Cole Palmer doubled the lead from the spot in the 64th minute, his 50th Premier League goal, after Lisandro Martinez was shown a second yellow for catching Wesley Fofana with a forearm in the box. The win lifted the Blues to fourth on the table with 16 points and left United 16th and without a victory in nine games.
Speaking to former Chelsea striker Tore Andre Flo after the game, as per The Chelsea Chronicle, Rogers explained where the finish came from. He pointed to how Pedro always asks him to do it when they train together.
“Joao Pedro is so good at it. He’s always doing it in training, and he’s always moaning at me to do it. Maybe that was him speaking to me in the back of my mind.”
Pedro was not involved in the game against United. The Brazilian has been out since picking up a thigh injury in training on the eve of last weekend’s defeat to Tottenham, with Rogers playing as a makeshift centre-forward in his absence.
Notably, the chip was Rogers’ fifth Premier League goal of the season, following his British record £117 million move from Aston Villa in July.
When will Joao Pedro return from injury for Chelsea?
Pedro has scored five goals and bagged three assists in six Premier League appearances this season. He signed a new deal at the club until 2034 back in August.
Xabi Alonso said the thigh injury would keep Pedro out for ‘a few weeks’ and that he was ‘not ready for the next games’. The striker was also left out of Brazil’s squad for November friendlies against Japan and Singapore, with Chelsea’s home game against Leeds on 21 November suggested as a possible return.
Chelsea lost 3-0 at Brentford and 2-0 at home to Spurs without him, failing to score in either game. The Blues next face Sunderland away from home in the Premier League on Sunday. Alonso and co. will be hoping they can add another win before they enter the international break.
Edited by Nived Zenith
