Rodgers: My idol is Ronaldo, Pogba and Touré for their freedom on the pitch

Villa player Rogers gave an exclusive interview to the BBC, discussing topics such as the World Cup and his football idols. He stated that Cristiano Ronaldo has been his childhood idol, and that he greatly admires the playing styles of Paul Pogba and Yaya Touré, also calling Emery a tactical genius.

Morgan Rogers is the top scorer for Aston Villa, who currently sit third in the Premier League table this season. Regarding this summer’s World Cup, Rogers believes he holds a unique advantage over any rivals competing for a starting spot in England’s lineup.

“I think I’m slightly different from all the other players in my position. I’d rather see myself as someone who can play multiple roles on the pitch,” he said. “If the coach needs me, I can play as a number 10, operate as a winger, or even lead the line as a striker. As long as the coach gives instructions, I have the ability to offer something that other players might struggle to provide—that’s my strength.”

“The World Cup is the pinnacle of football. Every child growing up dreams of stepping onto the World Cup stage,” Rogers continued. “Everyone longs to represent their country, and simply being among the potential candidates for the World Cup squad is incredibly exciting. It gives me huge motivation, especially as the new season begins.”

“I wouldn’t say the World Cup is my absolute top priority right now, but I do think about it—you can’t forget that after the season ends, England will head to the World Cup aiming for the title. As the tournament draws closer, that excitement and anticipation only grow stronger. Right now, I just want to focus on delivering strong performances for Villa week by week and let things unfold naturally.”

When asked about his football idols, Rogers frankly admitted that his idol is Cristiano Ronaldo: “Cristiano Ronaldo has been my idol since I was a kid. His performance during his first stint in the Premier League was unprecedentedly brilliant. I especially love the fearless, free-flowing style he plays with.”

“So the players I admire are those who play without fear, always keep trying, and never give up—like Paul Pogba, Yaya Touré, and a few other tall, physically imposing midfielders who combine exceptional talent with tremendous stamina.”

“Their style of play is somewhat similar to mine, and I watch how they play to learn from them. But honestly, I don’t think I’ve reached their level yet.”

Aston Villa failed to win any of their first five Premier League matches this season, and during that period, Rogers struggled to create threats for the team. He credits his mid-season turnaround to manager Emery’s guidance. Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Everton marked Rogers’ 100th appearance for the club, and he said: “Looking back now, I truly realize that Emery is a tactical genius. During the match against Bologna, I kept thinking, ‘I’m completely out of form, playing terribly—nothing’s going right. Maybe getting subbed off would actually be a relief.’”

“I’d never experienced a moment like that in my career, and Emery noticed. He wanted to see how I’d respond—how I’d push through that difficult period—and that experience ultimately had a very positive impact on me. The next day, I spoke with him, and he told me he was proud of my perseverance and never-give-up attitude throughout the entire match.”

“That was the turning point of my season—it completely changed how I view things and redefined my approach to every single game.”