Morgan Rogers: Unai Emery’s Craziness, From Championship to Champions League & Being Best Mates With Cole Palmer
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babble.com slash spotify podcast spelled b-a-b-b-e-l dot com slash spotify podcast rules and restrictions may apply hello and welcome to the rest is football with me gary lineker and micah richards no alan shearer today as he's working with amazon prime we're recording this on the afternoon of the 27th of december alan is at the emirates for arsenal's game against ipswich however we do have a special guest with us he's uh

One of England's most exciting young talents, a player that has become a regular this season for Aston Villa and someone we've eulogised on many occasions on the podcast this season. A very warm welcome to Morgan Rogers. Thank you, Morgan. Morgan! There's only one!

Morgan Rogers! Yes! And they're a bit of enthusiasts. I like that, Micah. You sound a lot better than you did a few days ago. You sound better than you did last night as well. Yeah, but at least I turned up, Micah. I turned up for it. And it's also great to have someone on the pod, Morgan, that actually makes Micah feel old. So you know how it feels now, in weeks.

you know how it feels how's your crisps been mixed I suppose you beat Manchester City and then you were at Newcastle St James' Park yesterday I've got to read a message from Alan Shearer and he goes tell Morgan that's what happens when you come and play at St James' Park I mean honestly

It's a bit harsh that, isn't it? It was a tough game. Plus you played most of it with 10 men. I don't know whether you saw much of the day last night, but we highlighted the John Durant red card and I think he was very, very unfortunate. His ankle kind of turned over and then I don't know where else he's supposed to put his foot, but hopefully we'll get him off it. Did he feel that himself? Yeah, I didn't actually see it. And then obviously a few of the boys speaking about it after the game.

And then we've watched it back and we see that his left ankle kind of buckles and then his right foot can't really go anywhere. And then it looks bad from our angle because from behind, it just looks like he's standing on his back. So I can kind of see what the ref's seeing at the same time. But yeah, when I think you look back at it as a whole, like as a player, there's not much you can do. You're putting your foot down on the ground. It just happens that he's there. There was no malicious nothing. Wasn't a stamp, wasn't a...

I just think it was one of them things. But yes, what can we do? It's one of them things we have to keep moving. Makes it tough though, play-slice in challenges, particularly when you're a goal down, doesn't it? And up against, you know, there's an extra man with that crowd for a start, let alone actually playing with 10 men against them. It was tough, I presume. Yeah, that's the first time I've played there. The atmosphere was crazy. I knew...

Going into it, a few of the boys have said that it was a difficult place to go, not just with the players that they've got, but also the crowd and the atmosphere. And yeah, it certainly lived up to it, especially them scoring early. Probably we didn't help ourselves and they probably jumped on it a bit more. But it's an experience, it's an occasion, it's one that I'll take in my stride and I'll get used to. But I kind of like playing in stuff, crowds like that, environments like that.

I think it brings the best out of me, especially when you're backed against it and stuff like it was. I know the result didn't go our way, but it's moments like that that you live for, really. So it's one of them days. Did you notice the slope on the pitch? No. There's no slope. Oh, there is from one end to the other. It's unique in that sense. It's got these drops about six feet, doesn't it, Micah? Yeah, it's ridiculous. Do you not get cramp after the game, especially with 10 men as well? I got cramps.

Crump at half time? I got dragged to the 7-8 as well. I'm not just going to focus on that particular game over the Christmas period. And I want to talk about your career and your upbringing and everything else. But you did beat Manchester City a few days ago, which must, and you scored an excellent goal. And having been there, of course, for yourself, that must have felt a little bit special. Yeah, of course. Scoring any goals is special. But yeah, it's like a full circle moment really for me. Yeah.

I loved when I was there, I loved my time there, I loved the people I got to work with. Most of the players, obviously, I played against. I was coming up when I was training with them and I used to look up and idolise them. So to kind of be on the pitch with them and to have my time to show what I'm about as well was nice in that sense. And I did really want to do well just for that, really, that nice feeling about it.

Of course, it's a difficult game. It's a tough game. And I know they're probably not on the run that they've liked, but they're no mean feat. They're still a tough side to play against. And yeah, it was just, it was a special day for me, really. And yeah, I really enjoyed it. Can we talk about this celebration? Gary's done it a couple of times. Whose celebration is it? Please put the people right, Morgan. Is it yours or is it Cole's? I know you're good friends, but who started it? I started it.

Are you sure? I started it. 100%. I started it. Get the timelines up. You can look at when he did it to when I did it. I think I did it probably about four or five days before he did it. Oh. And you chatted amongst yourselves about it before that? Yeah. So I did it off instinct in a Carabao Cup game for Middlesbrough.

he had a game against Luton on the Saturday and he FaceTimed me the Friday night and said if I score I'm going to do it I'm going to do the celebration for you and then I think he ended up scoring too so he did it did it twice and then it kind of blew off from there really and

and then obviously went on to score 40 goals or whatever he scored this season so just me just seeing it 45 times last season didn't probably help Do you get that now because he's done it so often people go oh why are you just copying Cole Palmer? I'm the copy and he's got the name for himself yeah the bad one was when I did it against we played Chelsea last year and I scored and I did it against Chelsea and after all their fans were giving me sick because they thought I was taking the mick out of him

And I'm just thinking, it's mine. I started it. You should have patented it. Yeah, I know. I didn't think it was going to be, well, it wouldn't have been that big if it was just me doing it anyway. So it's probably aided it in a way. While we're on the subject of, of, of cold Palmer, you,

I presume you were together at Manchester City coming up for a spell there. Is that how you got to know him? And probably in the England under... Well, you've pretty much played every level, haven't you? Under-15s, under-16s, under-17s. Pretty much the whole thing right through to the actual first team now. Have you always been quite close? Yeah, we made our debuts together under-15s. I remember he assisted me in the game and I scored.

And we've been close ever since then. Even before I went to City, we were pretty close. We got on always. And then when I went to City, it just got bigger and bigger and we got closer. Not just football, more off the pitch as well. Because when I was at City, he was with the 18s and I was more with the 23s. So we actually played together a whole load of times, made a youth cup and stuff.

But yeah, we got really close. We still see each other now when we can and stuff. So yeah, it's nice. What's he like? Everyone wants to know. I've seen him in lots of interviews and he amuses me. He's kind of throw away one line that he doesn't seem to care about. Anything really, nothing phases him. And it's almost his style off the pitch is very much his style on it.

What is he actually like? He's one of the most laid back people I've ever met. He's so chilled, like nothing will ever faze him. He'll do everything at his own pace, at his own time, when he wants kind of thing. And that's the way he plays, as you can see. It's like it's his pitch, his game, and everyone's just living in it and watching it. And that's how he is in life, really. He's just so chilled, so relaxed and laid back. Yeah, and in the interviews, he's not going to change for anyone. He's just going to be himself again.

he's not going to hype anything too much he just wants to play football he's just a kid that wants to play football and loves the ball at his feet and you can kind of see the joy that he plays with yeah that's kind of how he is that's what makes him who he is so I would never change that you can never take that out of him because that's he wouldn't be the player he was if he if he kind of changed his his attitude towards it what's made you the player you are where did it all start for I mean obviously in the West Midlands there you you grew up how did how did you start how did you get yourself involved in football

just my dad really just kicking the ball in the back garden like everyone else really that fun and that enjoyment of what I can remember when I was younger was just loving football and playing for the fun of it really my dad's obviously massive in that obviously having older brothers as well playing with and stuff I

And my mum as well. My mum's big in football. Like our family just loves the game. So from a young age, I was always playing, always enjoying it. And then just going on from team to team and then just taking it from there really. But yeah, that's the earliest memories I can remember playing in Hell's Owen, just where I'm from and just kicking the ball around, having fun really. What position was you? Because I, you know, you know, big Meeks was a striker. I used to bat on the left, right, left, right. Obviously not a very good one. Yeah.

You know that, Marks. I'm sick of these talking about Alan and Gary all the time. Big Meeks back in the day used to bag him in for fun. What position did you... Everywhere, really, but mainly attacker. Otherwise, an attacker wanting to score goals, always. Wanting to dribble past everyone. Still the show. But yeah, probably an attacker, just a striker as everyone else. I think everyone starts as a striker. I don't know if anyone grows up wanting to be... A Gary Neville. Wow. Wow. Wow.

It's a very good point, but I mean, the very best stay there the whole career, as I can assure you. You joined West Brom quite young, was under nines or something. Was that your team that you supported growing up or not? It's a tough one, my dad supported West Brom and my mum supported Man U. So growing up, they were my two teams that I used to watch. And then you end up Man City and Aston Villa. Yeah, it's the worst combo, isn't it? You can have two teams though, right?

I have Man City and Arsenal. Arsenal. And Leeds and Harrogate. Arsenal. Yeah, so followed them two teams. But West Brom was the, I'd say probably the best academy when I was younger, definitely. I think the players that we had coming through the ranks and the tournaments we got to when we were younger and getting to finals and semifinals and stuff, we were pretty successful and did pretty well as a group.

So it's a good decision, right decision for me at the time just to go to that, to West Brom and such a great group. The coaches I've met, the staff are unbelievable. I still keep in contact with quite a lot of them still to this day. A lot of them are at Villa now actually funnily enough and I walk past in the training ground and I'll see them

And they would just tell me about a story from when I was younger and stuff. And yeah, it's a nice reminder that with the person I am, I'm kind of still the same person, kind of still play a similar style. So yeah, it's nice. You went obviously then to Manchester City. How was that for a young man having to, you know, obviously to move at that stage? I presume you moved. Yeah. What was it like being in Manchester as a very young man, not probably knowing too many people? I struggled, I'd say. Yeah, I really struggled first time away from home.

just a different environment. I think the quality level, I wasn't necessarily the best player in the changing room. Like I was at West Brom where I was playing up ages and stuff like that and being pushed and kind of being seen as the next to rise kind of thing. But Man City, I looked everywhere.

And everyone was the next to rise, whether it be someone that had just been bought from Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, or someone that had come through the ranks. Everyone was the next best. Everyone was playing for England or playing for their country at that level. So I struggled. I found it difficult. I didn't know...

how to be myself in it. I didn't know how to shine in it. I didn't know how to get the best out of myself in it. That's probably why I took that leap to go out alone so early. I felt like I needed to go away from the environment, from the system and get back to what I know best. And that was just playing football and enjoying it. I love my time at City, but for different reasons. Obviously the people I met, the opportunities and experiences I got, but I probably didn't show my full potential. And that's, I wouldn't say I regret it because it's helped me become the person I am. But yeah, it's something I look back on and think,

Did you come across Pep Guardiola at all during that period? Yeah, obviously pre-seasons and stuff, I was with them. We went to Abu Dhabi, the World Cup was on in the Christmas period.

And a few of the big boys didn't go. Mahrez, Haaland, their countries didn't go to the World Cup. So I was around him for stuff like that, training. He quite often gets young players in and the young groups always working with the first team and always connected. So you're with him a lot, you're around him a lot. And yeah, I had quite a few interactions with him. I got quite a relationship with him. Such a lovely person, such a lovely guy. Always put his arm around me, make sure I was okay and always tried to help me, even when he didn't need to and he was focused on

the game on the weekend or bigger bigger things Champions League games and whatnot he'd still give that time of day to me and

and make sure I'm okay and look after me and help me so yeah that will always stick with me It's interesting you should say that because I think a lot of people you judge perhaps managers don't we by their pre and post match interviews and he can be quite savage and almost monosyllabic at times and appear a little bit grumpy but it's interesting to get that perspective of how he is with his players because I think

he'll also always defend his players publicly won't he we've seen that over the years even in this period I've not seen him once be critical of his players no we're playing fine this is happening blah blah blah football but you can see he's very much a player manager isn't he player coach yeah yeah yeah 100% he cares about players he cares about their interests he's a warming kind of thing when you're speaking to him like he

You can see generally cares and it might be a little thing and it might be a thing that you think everyone does, but I can assure you they don't. And it's nice when someone like that does. And yeah, you do take a shot into him and then I don't even need to get onto it.

the technical aspect of it and how good he is in that side of it and the tactical side of it because everyone knows, speaks volumes of what he does with each team and stuff. So yeah, he's a lovely person and yeah, I had the pleasure to work with him. It was really nice and then had a little moment with him last season when we played them and then this season, which was nice, a little kind of like...

Obviously, I know they just lost, but the compliment in the ear was really nice. What did he say? He was so, so good. He just said he was so happy and proud of me that I was doing well. And it's only a little short two-second comment, but I won't forget something like that because I know that I had the potential to show it. I didn't quite show it when I was there. So to come back and he can kind of see that I'm now showing what I could have become, I think is really nice. And hearing that from probably...

Definitely the best manager in the world, arguably one of the best managers probably ever, is really nice for me to hear. So yeah, that was a really nice moment. So when you went on loan, I heard Julian Lescott was your mentor. How was that relationship? Well, being from Birmingham helps. We can understand each other, lingo and stuff, obviously. But yeah, lovely guy. Yeah, he was with the loans department at City at the time. Helmed me with that massively. Just a player that's played the game, I think,

people probably take it for granted but when you've played the game you just have that extra bit of understanding that some people just can't get no one's fault but you just don't have that and I was on loan whether I go through a difficult spell of games he'd always be on the phone he'd always send me a message and it just helps you it just calms you down my first loan I was 18 and yeah he's a great guy just to have there just to

I could always pick up the phone, I could always speak to him, he'd always answer. We'd always go through clips and stuff and we'd always make a joke and a laugh on something I'd do as well. So it's always nice to have that.

that relaxed environment. So yeah, I owe a lot to him. And yeah, it was nice that I saw him in England as well the other day. So yeah, it's really nice. How valuable was it, that overall experience of going out on loan? I mean, you went to what, quite a few different teams, Lincoln, Bournemouth, Blackpool. Yeah. Was that a great learning curve for you? Yeah, massive. It's a rollercoaster as well. I went to teams top of the table, teams I got relegated with Blackpool in the mix of playoffs with Middlesbrough and stuff. It is amazing.

it's just madness what I've experienced and what I've experienced in such a short period. But I think they've all been crucial to me in different periods and I've had completely different managers that have helped me that I might not have seen at the time, but looking back on it,

Like I could understand why they've helped me and how they've helped me. Whether it be Matt McCarthy at Blackpool, I remember. And he's not the footballing type of manager you'd expect, but he definitely toughened me up and made me more resilient, more stronger. I found a way to be effective in a way I didn't think I could be. In what way? Just by using my body, using my frame. I used to play, I used to play quite small.

in terms of obviously being a winger, so I went to dribble at people, not using my body really, just trying to use skill. But he helped me use my body and hold the ball up and be strong. And then, yeah, stuff like that. You probably, these little details that have probably helped me that I didn't expect, that you don't expect at a time because you think, okay,

I just want to play football and have fun and score goals and whip it in the top corner but football's a lot more than just that and all them experiences are valuable for me I know everyone's career and path's completely different but mine was definitely necessary for where I wanted to get to and where I wanted to be yeah I mean

Were there ever times in there, I mean, it can't be that easy, you know, you're playing in a different club, in a different league and a different position in the table. Do you have any doubts creeping as to actually whether you're going to actually reach the top or not? Of course. I'll be lying if I said there wasn't. I always had full belief in my ability, but...

If you don't go and show it on a weekend, which sometimes I wouldn't, you'd still start to think in your head, "Am I ever going to reach the level that I know or the potential that I know I can reach?" Yeah, it's hard, obviously. It's a mental battle within yourself, but I had good people around me that helped me, that kept me on the goal, on the task at hand, and then, yeah, just trying to show what I can do when I can.

Luckily, it's all what it's how in the end. But yeah, it was difficult at times. It was good at times. Obviously, met different people along the way, but yeah.

Having that family and that support around me, I think was the big one for me when I was away from home and I wasn't in teams and stuff and I wasn't playing. I was thinking, you can get overstarted with thinking it when you're on your own, but there were always a phone call away and it really helped me focus on what needed to be focused on. You know when I knew you was going to be a star? I think I'm getting this right. You played for Middlesbrough in the FA Cup and I thought you was about 31. Seriously. I was like,

Am I aging that much? It's because you've dyed your hair the same colour as mine. That's why. But Jolyne used to talk about you all the time, saying he's got this skill at Man City, he's going to be, he can be whatever he wants to be. And then I was doing Middlesbrough and you know, because I don't want, we can't watch a championship every week because we were working at the Premier League. And I seen Rodgers, I was like...

It's not the guy Jolien's talking about. He's gone somewhere else or whatever. And then I just remember in the game, he absolutely bossed it. And I thought, this guy is a joke. Why have I not seen his career? And then this was what, a couple of years ago now. So you would only be young. That's what I knew. If you could do it at that level, in that environment, in,

those, it was freezing. I remember the conditions were freezing. I was like, this guy is going to be a star. So to see your development from then to now going to Villa and you talked about your positioning about, you mentioned Mick McCarthy using your body. The way you now roll players and able to accelerate away from players now, it's just a joy to watch. Yeah, it's funny in middles with the way it went because I wasn't always, I started the season, started the season

starting we didn't win any games I think he chopped and changed the team every time trying to find the winning formula then it was drop Morgan and that was the winning formula we were out and I think we were in a 12 game winning streak me coming on the last five minutes is working a treat

And then all of a sudden, just before that game, I started to pick up momentum and then play again. But football's all about momentum. And when I'm in a confident, rich vein of form, feeling good, you look a completely miles different player to when you have a kid out of form that can't get a kick or can't roll his man or looks weak and looks slow. So it's just the way football goes. Was there a moment at all where you thought,

Yeah, I've got it. I mean, you never want to get too carried away with yourself, obviously, because you're still very young in your career. But that point where, you know, you wanted to get into the Premier League and stuff and you suddenly thought, yes, this is it. Probably that Arsenal game at the start of the season, just because obviously the calibre of team we were playing against. Last season, I kind of dipped my toe in at the Premier League, a kind of...

felt how it was, had some good games, had some indifferent games, was kind of getting the feel of it. And this season I wanted to really start and kick on well. And for that performance early on in the season, let me know that I can mix it with the best players. I always have the ability in the back of my head going to the games that I can, but if you haven't shown it, there's no proof of it. And to show it the way I did, I know we didn't win the game and that was frustrating for me because I hate losing games.

Yeah, that kind of made me think, all right, that could be my level now. Let's always try and reach that level and reach that standard that I've now set myself. And that's what I'm trying to do. And that's what I continue to try and do every day. Okay, Morgan, we'll come to Aston Villa and I want to talk about all things England youth teams and the first team as well after this little break. Welcome back to the Rest of Us Football with Micah Richards, me, Gary Lineker, and today our special guest, Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa and England. Morgan Rogers!

go on before we go on I have to admit you've been in my fantasy football here we go bargain more than a bargain you're not gonna say you took him out are you in the Man City game I thought you know what I just thought Man City are gonna bounce back they've got to bounce back somehow somehow I took you out you got a goal and an assist and

Benny Price has gone up so I can't even get you back in. Idiot. I apologise. It's fine. It is fine. I understand how it is. But Kulosevsky's coming out, don't worry. He's had his little run now. He's going back in, don't worry. Just out of interest because I'm constantly surrounded by these obsessive fantasy football players, Micah, my sons. It's everywhere. Do the players do it? A few of them do, yeah.

Yeah, yeah, a few get on it. Middlesbrough was pretty big. We were all in on it and trying to get links any way you could. A few of the boys, like, played England ten years before and we're trying to get links from...

Yeah, yeah. Someone told me that he's injured this weekend. Hasn't spoke to him in five years and you haven't just texted him asking him if someone's injured. Do they all pick themselves? No, not really. I think they're playing to win. Playing to win. Can't score every week, can you? No. You've scored a few goals now, though. Aston Villa, what was it like when you signed for Aston Villa? You know, that's...

You know, proper football club, Premier League football club. How different was it to where you'd been before? I know you'd spent time at Manchester City, but in terms of first team football, et cetera? Yeah, nothing compares to it. It's a massive historic club. Obviously, me being from the area...

always knowing that it was the biggest club in the area and it was the, I don't want to say this because I might get battered, but the main club in the area kind of thing. Like it's seen as the biggest club. Yeah, what they've achieved, where they're trying to go, the direction of the club and stuff is massive. And when I came in, I think there were,

Second or third in the table, the fine odds kind of thing. The run at home that they went on last year, I think it was 12 or 13 in a row wins at home. And yeah, coming into that was crazy. I was kind of, couldn't believe it when the interest came up and where it came from and stuff like that. But yeah, the club is massive and the type of manager, the style of manager, the group of players that we've got, I think you can see the way the club's going. It was crazy.

He's a massive star struck moment when I first went in and kind of can't believe I'm here. But yeah, it was nice. You mentioned him there briefly, not with name, but Unai Emery. What's he like? Not just as a coach, but as a human being. Crazy in the best way possible. It's crazy. Yeah. As you can see him on the touchline, he's exactly like that in person. Day to day,

You might be in the canteen and it might, something might start something and he's just off on one talking about a detail of something that he thought of.

Yeah, he can catch you anywhere in a hotel and he'll go into detail about anything. So you kind of have to be on guard when he's around. Make sure you're on your best behaviour. Yeah, he's a great manager, great person. He's a great person to work with every day. He demands so much of everyone individually, as a team, collectively. And yeah, when someone's ideas are so straightforward and so simple, it helps everyone be aligned and helps everyone focus. And I think he just...

brings a continuity together that every day you know what you're working to, you know what you're striving to. There's no blurred lines or anything like that. And yeah, it's a good place to be. And that's because of him at the top and the way he works down with all the staff. And yeah, it's a great place to be. You said it's so easy there, tactically so simple. But for us as pundits, it seems really difficult at times,

Not to see what you're doing, but who's going to play where? Like sometimes you've been off the left, you've been a false nine, you've played nine by yourself, then you've dropped a little bit deeper. How easy is it to, if you know you're doing something tactically for one position, but then being able to

go into another position easily for the team? How easy is that to do? I don't think it's as difficult. Someone like John McGinn, I think, is incredibly difficult. I remember he was telling me the other day he played four games in a row and not one were in the same position. He played on the right, he played on the left, he played as a number 10 and he played as a deep midfielder. I think that's incredibly difficult. My one's kind of...

He wants me to be the same me, just maybe in a different area of the pitch. So he's just about adapting...

where I'm starting, I'm a starting position, but he still wants the same thing from me. What is it that he wants from you, Morgan? When you say he wants the best me or certain me, what is it? His big thing for me is my individual jewels. Make sure I win them. They're massive. Especially now, a lot of the times I'm being marked a lot in games constantly and it's about winning them. He wants me to get the ball in with the guy up behind me and he wants me to wriggle and roll them in the middle of the pitch to commit players, to beat players.

that's our way of kind of playing out if a team comes man to man with us. He relies on me, not just me, other players as well, to win their duels and to beat their man, if possible, to take touches on the ball. And that's what he's big on. And sometimes you get it right, sometimes you get it wrong. He lives with that. He puts the responsibility on him if we get it wrong, which is nice. But yeah, we demand ourselves a lot to win our individual battles in the game and come out on top. And it's about you beat him at the end of the day and

I know in the middle of the pitch it can be quite difficult, can be quite crowded, but that's where you win and lose games. That's where you open teams up if you want to attack and you can also concede chances if you don't.

We work on it every day and yeah, it's just about that. That's the biggest thing for me. It's just them jaws, them battles in the middle of the pitch to wriggle my man, to roll my man, to beat my man and then to create opportunities. You talked earlier about being a winger. You're more than that now, aren't you? You're playing more centrally. Where do you really love to play? Probably more central. I like being involved in the game. I think I can get a bit bogged down, a bit stuck out while you're waiting kind of for something to happen.

where I think in the middle I can make stuff happen kind of thing even for a second ball or a ricochet can just accidentally fall to you and you can kind of make something of it even if you're not getting the ball and that's what you have to do sometimes and I enjoy that I enjoy the battle I enjoy the physical battle in midfield Michael Carrick was probably the first one that actually put me there when I was at Middlesbrough I started playing more centrally at Middlesbrough I was always a winger growing up at City when I was on loan then I became more central at Middlesbrough so I've had to work

on receiving the ball in tight areas, receiving it in little pockets of space and understanding where to get on the ball and stuff and adapt my game that way. But I'll probably say I enjoy Central, but I don't mind playing out wide. I played there for England at every age group. I've always played out wide. When you've got technicians that we do in England playing in them pockets, it's probably hard to knock them out. So playing out wide is probably easier for me.

got more space to dribble and to drive so wherever the game is every game's different so wherever the space is I want to play really like against City out wide was a bit better than centrally against City because they're quite narrow so it just depends on the game really and what the game brings Mike alluded to the fact the way you drive with the ball

and go past players so effortlessly almost a little bit like Jude Bellingham as well obviously another lad from that area that you come on and someone you must know well as well do you see comparisons with him and you in terms of your style of play? Yes I think he's more of an all-round midfielder when I watch him I

I think he's at his best when he's doing everything. Yeah. I think he's one of them players that can just do everything. And whatever he does, nine times out of ten, he's going to work and be really good. Whereas I'm probably a bit more of attacking, whereas he can do probably better at the defensive side in the all-round game. So I think he's probably more of a genuine midfielder than me. But yeah, I kind of see the comparisons of obviously our size, our strength, the way we turn players. I can kind of see...

but I think we are a bit different and yeah, I don't want to compare myself with someone like that. I'll end up going under. - Could you say how special he was in the earlier days?

Yeah, from young. He played an age group for England, probably about 5'5", 5'4", at the time. But he used to play in the pockets and he had all the technical ability in the world. So now that he's got bigger and still got that technical ability, that's what makes him so special. He never had strength, size, speed to rely on when he was younger. He relied solely on his ability on the ball.

because of how small he was. So that when he did grow into his body, still having that skill with the size makes him unstoppable and a power. And that's why he's so unique and so universal in terms of the way he plays. Like no one plays like him. No one can match him in all departments of the game. If you match him in one, you'll probably lose out with him in another. That's why.

he's probably a cut above the rest in that aspect of a midfielder. So yeah, that's why he's doing so well in dominating. What are your ambitions going ahead? Because you're only, what, 22 now? You've just broken it. You've had a couple of caps now, haven't you? As well as obviously playing at all different sort of levels. Let's say in terms of England, is that the next goal? Yeah, I want to be a mainstay in the squad. I want to play the games. I want to play in big tournaments. I want to...

I feel like I'm getting to that level. It's just about being consistent with it. I think I'm hitting the level of the other players. I think, yeah, as I said, it's just about my consistency. That's what gets you in England squads. That's what sets you from the rest of the Premier League. And being in the top tier of that is the consistency, the churning performances out week in, week out. And kind of knowing when you're watching me, knowing what you're going to get from me or not. It being a flick of a coin, whether you get...

he was okay today or he was outstanding. I want to be that consistent to great every week and it's about finding that. I think I'm getting better as the season's gone on. I think I've had a few sticky periods where it hasn't gone quite my way, which is understandable, but as long as I'm doing the right things, I'm trying to do the right things, I know the positive things will still come from it. And yeah, that is the goal and I know what I need to do to get to that, but I know I'm well within my reach and I'm well within my capabilities to do that. So,

I just see it as an exciting challenge ahead to compete with the best players in England. And I think I'm in the mix too. And it's just about who performs the best consistently on the day and who does the best. And that's what I'm looking forward to. Can I just ask about the Premier League and the physicality of it? How much are you midfielders running in the games at this moment in time?

Because it feels to me like the game's getting quicker. It looks like you're going through more, obviously you wear the vest, don't you, with the GPSs and you know exactly what you're running. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Thank God they didn't have that in Alpine. But it just seems like it's ridiculous now. And obviously you mentioned about yourself and like it's gone well, some games you're not being happy with, but...

I think the good thing about, especially the team that you're in, it always looks like you are better than the other team when it comes to running stats. You just overrun them all the time at any moment. Yes, you're going to lose some games. Yes, you're going to win some games. But that physical demand that you're putting on your body every week, what sort of numbers would you be running as a midfielder now in the Premier League? Average, probably around 11, 11K, 11 and a half, probably average.

Then when we play the big teams, it probably gets up close to 12. But yeah, around 11, I'd say, is the minimum. I think our group is so good that we've got so many players that are just hard-working players at the end of the day. We all want to work hard for the team. Our game plan, our style is a lot about running as well. Of course, we want to keep possession and stuff like that, but we're so deadly on the counter-attack and playing quick when we need to that...

Sometimes our games probably not how we'd like to turn into basketball games, turn end to end and you're running there and back. But yeah, it's just part of the game. I think nutrition and all stuff like that, sleep, recovery has all come such a long way that you've got to be ready for the games and everything.

is what it is you gotta play through injuries play through battles but yeah it's fun how is your nutrition because mine was shocking when I used to eat it Chinese chicken wings salt and pepper ribs special fried rice half time this is half time ha ha

I'm a bit more professional now. I'd feel too bloated for that. That's all had to increase for me as well. It was never bad, but I probably had to take it more seriously since I've come to Villa. Everyone's so...

Everyone at Villa has their own chef, knows what they're eating, when they're eating, everything. We're all on top of that, stuff like that, body fats, everything. So, yeah, you have to hone in on stuff like that. And it does help. It does make a difference. So, yeah. How have you enjoyed the Champions League this season? Because Villa have been going well in there. Yeah, it's been fun. Yeah, I feel like we've brought our best in that. We've had some difficult games that we've got results out of and stuff. And that's been just...

It's just a dream for me playing that competition, hearing the music.

playing against the calibre of players. I could never have imagined that a year ago when I was playing in the Championship that I'd be playing Champions League, the speed of everything that's happened so quick. And I think that's probably for the best. You don't think about it too much. You just take it in your stride. It's kind of like next game, go again. And yeah, I'm just loving it at the moment. I love every game. I can't wait for the next one. And we're doing well in it, which also helps. And if you were losing, you might look at a downer of it, but because we're doing so well, it also helps.

Also gives you that extra motivation to go and see what we can do. When you heard that music though, when you heard that music, the Champions League for the first time, you mentioned it then, but like, was you nervous? Was you happy? I remember the first time I heard it, I was just buzzing. I'm like, no one could take this away from me now. I played Champions League.

Yeah, no, it's crazy. And everyone talks about it and you hear it on TV and stuff. But to hear it live, that extra crisp noise, that actual... And you kind of humming it in the background, listening to it. And then you got the camera up and close and you don't want to start singing it. So you got to keep it serious. But yeah, no, that never takes that feeling away, even now.

for what we played six games I think and each time it feels that bit better it doesn't wear off it doesn't get worse it still still hits the same yeah it's iconic so yeah that's a nice part of it I mean you've had some amazing results in the competition but you must have been gutted when you got the goal disallowed against Juve wasn't it?

I'm trying to forget about that. Terrible decision. Apologies, apologies. I can't get a bad door in the Champions League. I thought I'd done it. It was a weird one because I didn't know whether he blew for a goal or blew for a foul. I didn't know what he was doing. I probably should have known better though because it's Europe. Europe, the way that the games are reffed are completely different to the Premier League and yeah, probably stuff like that is never going to be...

never going to be let go is it can't touch keepers these days it'd be an amazing achievement wouldn't it if you could finish in that top eight that automatic qualification spots I mean because obviously you know Villa getting into the Champions League is a big achievement first and foremost but

But then to be, you know, in this new format, which we're all enjoying, I don't know whether you're enjoying it as a player or not, but it'd be an amazing achievement to get in that top eight and automatically go through to the knockout stage. Yeah, obviously I've never played in the Champions League before, but the feeling in the format is that I think everyone has more of a chance. Like if you look at the leagues now, I think a lot of the big hitters are in that middle stage because they're about to play each other or big games or back-to-back big games, right?

I think that just makes it a bit more difficult instead of a group where you kind of can guess the two that are going through beforehand, especially when I used to watch it. You kind of look at the groups and know who are going through. I think that makes it a bit more exciting. You can see good teams that you didn't think expect to do well doing so well and so high. I think that adds to the excitement. I think there's more on each game and more stress and more, yeah, more kind of knockout feel to the game as such. So being

Being in here feels great knowing that it matters winning each game and accumulating these points and the same for other teams.

Yeah, I think it's working great so far. I don't know. I didn't play in the one before, but yeah, it seems to be looking at the league that everyone feels like they've got a chance and a couple of good wins and you're back in the mix kind of thing. So yeah, it feels good anyway. There are a couple of players I wanted to ask you about. I mean, John McGinn, I think apparently is an amazing personality and a lot of fun. And your goalkeeper, because I mean,

It's sort of the master of shithousery but also a wonderful goalkeeper and obviously a World Cup winner. He seems an amazing personality to me. The sort of bloke you really do want in your team. You don't want to be against him. I can see why people don't like him as well. You can see it. I remember we played Lille last year in the penalty shootout in the Conference League and it's just before the penalties and he's winding up. The Lille fans, bearing in mind it's the best atmosphere I've ever been in. They have like a wall of

And there was non-stop all game and he's winding them up just before the pens. I'm thinking, I hope this doesn't aid their pens and make them score. But he goes and saves the pen and we win. It's like he has to play the game like that to bring the best out of him. He needs to be angry. He needs something going against him for him to come out and shine. He's so good in their moments. And yeah, that personality, that character you need from behind,

especially when we probably haven't been at our best for some of the games this season and he just pulls out a save that you can't quite believe how he's done it. Yeah, he's the best in the world for a reason. Yeah, he continues to do that. And then John McGinn is, yeah, he's some character, some person. A different type of captain, I think, for the group that we've got is vital. He's not too hard on everyone. He kind of...

is one of them people that understands, tries to understand everyone and tries to get along with everyone and understand where they're coming from and kind of that player captain in terms of he's all for the players, he's all about the players, all about protecting us and he'll be the one to take stuff before anyone else and in the media he'll always go out and speak on our behalf and stuff so he's a great leader in probably a different way and then by example in just everything he does on the pitch, the heart, the determination, the hunger that he plays with, it just rubs off on everyone else and he's kind of

He's kind of our tempo setter in big games. Remember the City one after 20 seconds, he wins the ball in the halfway and we almost score. He gets us going and to have them two characters are massive. And especially for someone like me and a few of the other young players coming in and trying to learn our trade, having them to look up to is really big. You've experienced what they've experienced and you can help you through situations. It's good to have big leaders like that. It must be also very good to have two top class strikers up top.

obviously you seem to have built a relationship with Ollie Watkins you seem to play really well together but John Duran whenever he's come on and even whenever he started and we talked about how unlucky he was to get sent off but you know they both deliver don't they and particularly I think it's useful I would imagine when you're going on different fronts it's not just the Premier League but you've got the Champions League and now the Cup competition is about to start the FA Cup as well It's massive having them too honestly there's

both of them in different ways and massive to the way we want to play and to how we play. And Oli had the summer he did with England, but he did that having struggled with fitness throughout the tournament and then coming into the season with Shuglin. And then John stepped up. I think he won first five, I think in our first five games, he'd scored the winner in three or four of them.

And it was massive and we needed that because we relied so much on Oli last year with his goals and his assists that we knew that we need other people to step up. Me included, everyone included. And John was that person that did that at the start of the season. And he's just kept going. He's just kept being relentless. We know what Oli brings. I think everyone in this country knows how important Oli is to our team and how vital he is. But the surprise is obviously John and how well he's done and how far he's come from such a short space of time is massive and huge.

I think them two bring the best out of each other because they're competing now. Whereas before, maybe they weren't. It was just always Oli would play and he'd come off the bench. Now, there's a genuine competition there because John's improving and developing, not just with his goals, but his all-round play as well. And,

defending everything about it because obviously it's difficult he's still younger still trying to learn the game and develop as well and yeah it's mad to we've got two strikers that perform so well and score so much goals and help so much and to play with both of them yeah it's

It's good I'm just trying to get them as much goals as I can when I'm playing and try and help them the best I can. What do you think you need perhaps to work on most in your game, Morgan? I think Alan and myself and Mike who said, you know, you seem to be such an all-round package, perhaps finishing. Is that a fair criticism or not necessarily a criticism, but something that you need to... Yeah, 100%. That's why I was so satisfied with the City game because it's all hard work of me

dribbling 50 yards up the pitch, 60 yards up the pitch. But if I'm not getting the goals and assists or even the team getting goals and assists, it means nothing to me. Yeah, I've been a bit disappointed this season with how I've done the hard work in a lot of games. And then that final bit just hasn't been decisive enough, been clean enough, been...

yeah clinical enough and I know I've got the quality and the ability to do so I've shown it on occasions and at times and I know I can do it more consistently so it's just about it's just about doing it but I'll keep working I'll keep improving I'm not the finished article I know I've got a lot to improve on to get better on but yeah that's one definitely I'd just in and around the box just to be cleaner and sharper and to take more chances it sounded you know it's difficult but yeah I know it will come and I know

I'll be fine as long as my performances are there that's the most important thing first and foremost I'm not I'm not a player that's too bogged down on stats I prefer a good performance over just a goal and go home so I don't think about it too much but yeah of course it's something I want to add to my game and I want to improve on and compete with the best who are all churning out goals and assists for fun That's why Mike has left you out it's fantasy team you're not bogged down with stats Yeah

Is it a fantasy for all-round performance or is it just stats? So, I mean... Hold on. I've been banging the drum for you for England for the last year now. I've been banging that drum. I started it. I started the Morgan Rogers fan club.

Match of the day, Sky. I was banging it. Morgan, I need more from you. That's what I'm saying. I played the game of my life against Arsenal and he picks me up two points. There's nothing... My breakout game, best I've ever played, all of this and I only get two points. I'm still getting abused for only getting two points. He's taking over the world. I've got one final question. I don't know about Micah, but I've got one final question. What's your dream? To win a major tournament.

with England and then to win the Premier League. That is the correct answer. Individual achievements, I know we'll come with that but yeah, I think the team ones for me will be massive just they're the two that I've grew up thinking about so yeah, I won't stop to try and win them. Well, Morgan, I must say we've all really enjoyed watching you play this season. We're really enjoying your progress. We wish you continued success and keep improving, keep getting better and I'm sure you will. You've got so much

so much quality in there and good luck for the rest of the season and for your career it's been an absolute delight to talk to you thank you very much appreciate it guys thank you that's it for this episode of The Rest Is Football goodbye from me and goodbye from me