Chelsea forward Morgan Rogers believes manager Xabi Alonso's team talks are the catalyst behind the team's remarkable tendency to score quickly after the start of matches. This assertion comes despite Alonso himself stating he has no explanation for the phenomenon.
Chelsea demonstrated this trait again in their recent 5-1 victory over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge. The team secured a 2-0 lead within the first three minutes, with Jordan Henderson scoring after 66 seconds and Rogers doubling the advantage after 149 seconds. Joao Pedro then extended the lead to 3-0 just 29 seconds into the second half.
"I put it down to the manager's team talks," Rogers told the media. "He gets us firing, gets us going. We always want to start off on the front foot. It's about starting well and getting the lead. A lot of games, especially at home, we have won after jumping on the back of early goals. It’s a good trait to have which we need to keep going."
Alonso, however, remained mystified. "I have nothing to do with it," he said. "I have no explanation."
Rogers, a £117 million summer signing, has been directly involved in three of Chelsea's six goals scored within the opening seven minutes of matches this season. He suggested that Alonso, while projecting a calm demeanor in press conferences, is more animated in the changing room, encouraging players to start with "good energy" and leverage their rapid-fire scoring record.
The manager reportedly reminds his players of their ability to unsettle opponents from the outset and to utilize their attacking prowess to build confidence. He encourages them to push high up the pitch from the first whistle, a strategy that has become a hallmark of Chelsea's home performances. Fans are now accustomed to seeing goals early in matches.
This trend has been consistent across several games. Chelsea led after 38 seconds against Fulham, after three minutes and 39 seconds against Brighton, after 77 seconds against Arsenal, and after six minutes and 15 seconds against Hull. The only recent exception was their 3-0 loss at Brentford, prior to the Bournemouth match, where they did not score within the opening seven minutes.
Despite the surprise element for some, there was palpable excitement within the Chelsea squad before the Bournemouth game about who might score the opening goal. The pre-match preparation even included practicing set pieces, with Henderson notably scoring a 25-yard free-kick for the fifth goal against Bournemouth, a situation that involved banter between him and Cole Palmer regarding their celebration plans.
Rogers acknowledged that while he was away on international duty, his teammates, under the guidance of set-piece coach Austin MacPhee, practiced free-kicks. He humorously noted his slight displeasure at not being the designated taker upon his return, but ultimately emphasized the team's collective success in scoring as the most important outcome.