Ryan Gravenberch has credited Jurgen Klopp with helping him rediscover his confidence after a crushing stint at Bayern Munich last season.
The 21-year-old made the move to Liverpool from Bavaria in September in a deal that could eventually be worth £40m. It came just 12 months after he had joined the Bundesliga champions from boyhood club Ajax.
During his sole season at Bayern Munich, Gravenberch started just three Bundesliga games and failed to win over manager Julian Nagelsmann and later Thomas Tuchel. But since moving to Anfield however, the Dutchman has played a vital role in Liverpool’s strong start to the Premier League season and already started more league games than he did in the entirety of last season in Germany.
Speaking to TNT Sport ahead of Saturday’s fixture at Crystal Palace, which he could start after Alexis Mac Allister suffered a knock to the knee in the win at Sheffield United on Wednesday night, Gravenberch hailed Klopp for restoring his self-belief after a bruising experience at the Allianz Arena.
When I spoke to him, he gave me a warm feeling, like a family, you know? That’s what I missed. I’m very happy he gave me that feeling,” said Gravenberch. “I’ve a good connection with the coach.
When he has something to say to me about the game, or something else, we just talk with each other. I have a good connection with him.
“He just gives me confidence, to give me minutes on the pitch again. He just told me: ‘Enjoy the game again’. And that’s what I did. With the minutes, the confidence came back.”
Asked if an increase in minutes was the trigger behind a renewed enthusiasm, Gravenberch replied: “For me, yes. Of course, you have to play well, but if you get minutes and do your own thing, what you’re good at, then of course it will come back.”
The midfielder’s decision to move to Liverpool was initially met with annoyance from the Dutch Football Association and national team boss Ronald Koeman, who were left unimpressed with Gravenberch after he rejected a September call-up to his country’s under-21s set-up in favour of finding his feet on Merseyside.
That decision, though, appears to have paid dividends for both Holland and Gravenberch, with under-21s manager Michael Reiziger now backing the Reds midfielder to push for a place in Koeman’s squad for next summer’s European Championships after such an eye-catching start to life at Anfield.
