On the eve of Villa's clash with Manchester City, Villa's central midfielder Morgan Rogers spoke exclusively to TNT Sport about his thoughts on current manager Emery and former manager Pep Guardiola, as well as his journey and vision for the future after his time at Manchester City, his experience on loan, and his return to Villa.
Emery's Strict Teacher's Way
Morgan Rodgers admits that Emery and Pep Guardiola share commonalities in team building and high standards for players, but have a deeper understanding with Emery. He reveals that Emery has almost demanding expectations of him and constantly pushes him to perform at his best every week as he is well aware of Morgan-Rodgers' potential. Despite feeling pressurized at times, Morgan-Rodgers believes that this relationship is perfect for him as it helps him to keep improving.
Pep Guardiola's careful cultivation
Talking about Pep Guardiola, Morgan Rogers described him as an incredible coach and personality. During his time at Manchester City, Guardiola gave him a lot of valuable guidance and helped him grow. Morgan Rodgers is deeply grateful for Guardiola's help.
Valuable lessons from the Manchester City years
Reflecting on his time at Manchester City, Morgan Rogers said that the system there was rigorous and that the model of behavior in the first team influenced everyone. This atmosphere taught him how to pass on the philosophy and equipped him with a solid foundation when he was promoted to the first team. Despite failing to reach the first team level at Manchester City, these experiences allowed him to grow into the player he is today.
Self-challenge on a rental trip
Morgan Rogers believes that the loan experience has been an integral part of his career. It has given him the opportunity to showcase himself in the first team of other teams, challenge himself and compete against grown men in a tough league. He says that he has gained a wealth of experience during his time on loan and has gained a deeper understanding of himself.
Man City's resilience amidst woes
In the face of Manchester City's recent poor performance, Morgan Rogers said that the poor results are only temporary and that City is still one of the strongest teams in the world. He reminded his teammates not to take things lightly as City are still a difficult team to beat.
Extra motivation against the old masters
Facing his old masters Manchester City, Morgan Rodgers admitted that this game has extra motivation for him as he wants to use this opportunity to show what he is capable of. But he also said that he gives his best in every game as it is a good time to show what he can do.
Shining moments in 2024
Looking back on 2024, Morgan Rogers says it was a year full of highlights. His first goal for Villa, his first appearance for England and his return to the Champions League are all huge achievements in his career. But he also said that he doesn't want to stop there and wants to create more moments in 2025.
