Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery gave the 22-year-old a second shot at the top flight.
But he refused to acknowledge his £7million buy from Middlesbrough anything other than "a Championship player" until the Black Country boy proved his worth.
Rogers, above, said: "Unai didn't love me at the start. That's the way he manages, especially me. It was very much a case of tough love.
"Early on, we had a conversation.
He said, 'Until you have proved yourself in the Premier League, you are still in my eyes - a Championship player'.
"That stuck with me and still does.
Now, I get what he means - but at the time, you think, 'That's a bit harsh' but when I look back, I know what he was trying to do.
This story is from the November 23, 2024 edition of Daily Express.
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This story is from the November 23, 2024 edition of Daily Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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