Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers has shown a high level of maturity regarding his rivalry in the England camp ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
The Aston Villa midfielder has been in the spotlight due to the possibility of competing with Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham for a place in England’s starting XI at the World Cup. Both players are often deployed in similar attacking midfield roles, meaning one could potentially be selected at the expense of the other during the tournament.
The media has frequently compared their performances over the past season and occasionally speculated about how their rivalry could negatively affect England’s World Cup campaign.
However, Rogers does not appear to be distracted by such narratives. In fact, he addressed the issue with remarkable maturity during an interview on The Rest Is Football, as reported by the Birmingham Mail.
“Sometimes people can misinterpret the way he (Jude) comes across. He has the biggest drive to win I have ever met in my life. He wouldn’t be where he is, competing for Real Madrid, in the biggest games in football, without the character and personality.
“That is what you really need as a footballer to get to the top level. He has had that from a young age, that swagger on the pitch and that.”
In terms of last season’s performances, the Aston Villa man can certainly be considered to have enjoyed the better campaign. Rogers was in fine form for the Clarets and Blue, registering 14 goals and 12 assists. He helped Villa qualify for the Champions League and win the Europa League, ending the club’s 30-year trophy drought.
In contrast, Bellingham endured a disappointing season with Los Blancos, going trophyless for a second consecutive year. He also struggled with injuries and managed eight goals and five assists during the 2025/26 campaign.
However, when it comes to consistently performing at the highest level, Bellingham remains one of England’s standout players. He is a proven winner with a strong mentality and has repeatedly delivered in the biggest matches.
Rogers himself acknowledged the importance of his England teammate, sharing his thoughts on the 22-year-old midfielder.
“The group love him and I don’t see the problem people have with it, it’s a bit strange. He is our golden boy, he is the one we should be cherishing and putting to the world that he is our player and sticking behind him.”
Considering the talent both players possess, many have questioned whether they can play together in the same team. Some believe it would be difficult because of their similar positions. Once again, Rogers disagreed.
“We play in similar positions. I don’t think we are the same. I think we play completely different. He has so many strengths that I want to learn and improve on, and I am sure it is the same the other way. I think we can definitely play together. I’d love to play together. I want to play with England’s best players.
“He’s right at the front of that and someone that I’ve always wanted to play with from a very young age, and that’s no different now.”
It will be interesting to see how Thomas Tuchel accommodates both players in his line-up. Deploying them as dual No. 10s is certainly one possibility, although it could force other attacking players, such as Marcus Rashford, out of the starting XI.
A 3-4-2-1 formation could be an option, with Bukayo Saka and Nico O’Reilly operating as wing-backs, Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson forming the double pivot, Bellingham given a freer role, and Rogers playing as a false left winger behind Harry Kane.
Another possibility would be a 4-3-3 system, with Rogers taking a place in the front three while Bellingham operates in midfield. A 3-1-4-2 could also work, with Rice sitting deep, Bellingham playing as a box-to-box midfielder, and Rogers deployed as a No. 10. Saka and O’Reilly could provide width, while Rashford partners Kane in attack.
It remains to be seen whether Tuchel will eventually consider any of these options during England’s World Cup campaign.
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