Liverpool’s Gravenberch: Klopp kept promises better than Bayern bosses

Happy in Liverpool

The year at FC Bayern Munich was not a happy one for midfielder Ryan Gravenberch from a sporting perspective; the Dutchman now seems more satisfied with the overall situation in Liverpool after his €40 million move on Deadline Day of the summer transfer window. In the run-up to the duel with Luton Town, the 21-year-old, who was in the starting line-up for the Reds twice in a row in the Premier League, blamed his new coach Jürgen Klopp for the recent high in form.

The German also recently praised the development of his protégé, who only made short appearances in the early part of the season: “I really like him as a boy and a player. “It’s really nice to see him starting to believe in himself again,” Klopp said. The 56-year-old showed him a clear plan right from the start, said Gravenberch on the Dutch TV channel “Viaplay” (quoted via “Kicker”): “They wanted to build me up slowly, but I would get my chances. That was the most important thing I wanted.”

And the eleven-time Oranjes national player now gets this, despite the sometimes high-class competition in the center such as ex-Leipzig player Dominik Szoboszlai and world champion Alexis Mac Allister. From eleven games in the current season, Gravenberch has four goal involvements across all competitions. His market value was increased by five million euros as part of the most recent Premier League update, bringing him back to his previous career high from 2022 (see history).

During his time at FC Bayern, Gravenberch had one goal and one assist in a total of 34 appearances. The longest appearance in the record champions’ jersey was 71 minutes; the right-footed player had repeatedly expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of playing time and his accompanying disappointment with the sporting leadership last year. When asked whether Klopp had kept his promise better than the Bayern bosses did after the transfer from training club Ajax Amsterdam to the Isar, Gravenberch replied: “Actually yes.”

“I got the minutes I was expecting,” continued the midfielder, who also confirmed that he had already gotten used to football in the Premier League and was now aiming for his first goal: “The intensity is higher here. The Premier League is number one in the world. It’s different than where I come from. I feel good. I got off to a good start and am very happy about it.”

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