Ryan Gravenberch opens up on his improvements under Arne Slot at Liverpool – after Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman took sharp dig at Reds star
Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has opened up on his improvements under Arne Slot after the first three games of the Dutchman’s reign.
Slot has enjoyed a perfect start to life in charge of the Reds, winning his first three matches of the Premier League season without conceding a goal.
He faced a mammoth task of taking over from fan favourite Jurgen Klopp, but has already made his mark on the side – and Gravenberch has played a huge role in the transformation.
The midfielder has played a No 6 role so far this campaign, and shone in the 3-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford in the final match before the international break on Sunday.
Now, speaking to SoccerNews.nl, he has opened up on the reasons behind his stark improvement in the opening matches of the season.
Ryan Gravenberch has opened up on his improvements under Arne Slot at Liverpool
Slot has put his faith in Gravenberch in the No 6 role in the first three games of the season
Gravenberch opened up on his new role and his enjoyment at getting on the ball more often
‘There were sometimes matches in which I had only touched the ball once after five or six minutes,’ he said. ‘Then you don’t get into your game.
‘Now I get the ball more, then you get more comfortable. He just saw this. In the end it worked out well.
‘Now it’s going well, so, yes, everyone is praising him [Slot].’
The 22-year-old had a slow start to life at Anfield after joining from Bayern Munich for £35million a year ago, making just 12 starts in his debut campaign under Klopp.
Now, however, with Liverpool failing to sign a No 6 in the summer, he seems set to play a key role this term and has started all of the top flight matches so far this campaign.
Gravenberch told Liverpool’s club website on August 24: ‘I had a little chat with him [Slot] and he said I have to focus on the No 6 and No 8 positions.
‘Now I play at No 6. In the past I played it as well so I know what I have to do. I’ve enjoyed playing there.
‘It’s a little bit of a different system than we played last season, but I think everyone has adapted to it. Now we have to build it further and further.
‘I think at the end we can be a really dominant team.’
Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has criticised Gravenberch’s apparent lack of ‘focus’
Koeman said that Gravenberch has ‘finally realised what is asked of him’ as he builds his career
He was criticised by national team boss Ronald Koeman at the start of the international break, however, for his apparent attitude, as adjudged by the former Everton manager.
Koeman responded to one journalist’s glowing praise for the defensive midfielder by saying: ‘I am glad you added that last part. I have always seen the potential in him.
‘But I believed he lacked focus, this is something that he had to improve and now it seems that he finally realises what is asked of him.’
Despite turning out 26 times for the Reds last season, Gravenberch did not play a single minute in a Euro 2024 campaign which saw the Netherlands reach the semi-finals.
