Ryan Gravenberch has attributed his exceptional start to the season with Liverpool to the clarity and confidence instilled in him by manager Arne Slot.
The midfielder has been an ever-present figure in the Reds’ Premier League campaign, starting all three matches and playing a pivotal role in their perfect record.
Gravenberch’s performances, particularly in the No. 6 role, have earned widespread acclaim from pundits and fans alike.
His seamless partnership with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai has been a key factor in Liverpool’s dominance, culminating in a resounding 3-0 victory over Manchester United on Sunday.
The 21-year-old’s impressive form has not only solidified his position in the Liverpool lineup but also boosted his chances of making a significant impact for the Netherlands in their upcoming fixtures.
He said:
“I just feel good in my skin, to be honest.”
“But does that have a reason? Yeah, things are going well at the club. I’m just doing my thing, and it’s working out well now.”
When asked whether Slot has had a role in that, Gravenberch said:
“He gives me confidence now. He just lets me start in the lineup. It’s going pretty well.
“As a player, you obviously want to get minutes. For me, that confidence is part of it.
With that confidence, I feel more comfortable, and with the minutes, it keeps getting better.
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“He’s a good coach. He knows what he wants. He has a clear plan. Yeah, so far, we’re executing it really well.
Clarity from the start is always nice for me.”
Gravenberch said he had this positive form in him last year, but it was not enough to impress for the Netherlands in last summer’s European Championships.
Gravenberch was part of the squad, but he did not get any minutes at the tournament. That frustration stayed with him in the off-season.
“It did gnaw at me a little,” he said. “Because, when you go to the Euros, of course, you want to play. But in the end, we have to move on. The Euros are in the past. And now we’re here.”
“Life goes on,” he added. “The Euros are over, and now we have to focus on the Nations League. And in two years, there’s the World Cup again.”
He said he “cleared [his] head” on holiday and is hoping to show what he’s capable of for the Netherlands in their forthcoming matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Germany in the Nations League.
He says he will aim to do that by “showing myself in training, and ultimately, when the coach gives me minutes, also in the matches.”
Gravenberch is poised to continue his remarkable run and make a lasting impression on the pitch.
