Rogers clears the air with Rice after Emirates bust-up went viral with AI deepfakes

Morgan Rogers has moved to put his on-pitch confrontation with Declan Rice firmly to bed, confirming the two England teammates reconciled straight after Chelsea’s London derby at the Emirates earlier this month.

The incident flared when Arsenal midfielder Rice tripped Rogers, prompting the Chelsea forward to shove back — a moment that was amplified by home supporters taunting Rogers with chants suggesting he should have signed for the Gunners instead. The exchange quickly took on a life of its own online, with AI-generated deepfake videos and fabricated quotes depicting a dressing-room confrontation going viral.

“It’s just competitors competing and wanting to win,” Rogers said. “London derby, me getting absolutely dog’s abuse by the fans doesn’t help. All emotions come into one at that moment, but Dec and I are fine. We spoke about it after the game. We’re completely fine.”

Rogers took the viral content in his stride, laughing off the AI-generated footage when it was sent to him. Asked whether he came out on top in the deepfake video, he smiled: “Did I win? It’s about right then.”

The 22-year-old, who turned down interest from Arsenal and Bayern Munich to join Chelsea in the summer, says he is settled and motivated at Stamford Bridge. “I’m happy to be at Chelsea. Enjoying the new manager’s ideas, enjoying the new players, the different surroundings. I think it was time for a new challenge, and it’s come at a good time.”

Rogers also spoke about the weight of Chelsea’s history and what it means to him as a potential contributor to it. Growing up watching the club’s dominant era under José Mourinho, with figures such as John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole as his reference points, he described the prospect of adding to that legacy as “mind-boggling”.

“If you look at when I was born to the titles that they won, in the prime years of me first watching football — it’s your early Mourinho, late Mourinho and all those players,” he said. “So when they come in and there’s an opportunity for me to go there, it’s mind-boggling to think that I can be part of that history. The prospect of winning and competing at the highest level at Chelsea really caught me.”

Rogers acknowledged there is still work to be done before Chelsea can challenge for major honours, but made clear his ambition to be central to whatever the club builds next.