Ferdinand loses mind over what ‘ridiculous’ Morgan Rogers did in Aston Villa win
Rio Ferdinand couldn’t believe what Morgan Rogers did as Aston Villa beat Club Brugge 3-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Villa Park hosted Nicky Hayen’s team on 12 March as the home side ran away with a victory after goals from Marco Asensio and Ian Maatsen.
Unai Emery made five changes against Brugge, and the decision paid off as the Lions have now qualified for the quarter-finals of the European competition.
The Paris Saint-Germain loanee scored a brace, but Rogers’ contribution in the buildup to Maatsen’s strike caught the attention.
Rogers footwork in Aston Villa v Club Brugge amazes Ferdinand
Rogers’ footwork in the buildup to Villa’s second goal was “ridiculous”, Ferdinand says.
The former Manchester United defender was amazed at the 22-year-old’s ability to beat defenders and play the ball into Maatsen’s feet, whose shot deflected before going in.
| Appearances (2024/25) | Goals | Assists |
| 41 | 12 | 7 |
Ferdinand hailed the English midfielder’s ability on the ball, which was also on show during the first half at Villa Park.
Speaking on TNT Sports 1 (12 March, 21:15), the ex-defender said: “The footwork from Rogers was ridiculous. Look at that there, beautiful. Again, when I spoke about both feet dribbling in the first half. He gives a great example of it there to open it up.”
Emery delighted with Rogers at Villa Park
Emery has done brilliantly since taking over at Villa Park, and it isn’t surprising to see him being linked with the top jobs elsewhere.
The Spanish manager led the Villans to a top-four finish last season, although a similar prospect in the English top flight will be challenging this time around.
Emery’s team are eighth in the Premier League, but they are still not too far behind fourth-place Chelsea in the table.
Rogers has broken into the starting lineup this season and become an influential player for the Lions.
The England international’s displays haven’t gone unnoticed, as he was handed his first cap for the Three Lions earlier in the campaign.
Emery has opted to play the 22-year-old mostly on the wings, and his quality on the ball has seen him contribute to several goals this season.
While there have been several standout stars at the Villans in recent matches, Rogers has shone bright, leading them out of the last-16.
While tougher challenges are ahead in the Champions League, the Villa Park faithful will be confident of their chances in the competition.