Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has explained how Arne Slot helped him overcome his initial difficulties at the club to establish himself as a key player this season.
The Dutchman has been speaking to Soccer News about his transformation at Anfield so far this season.
He had something of a difficult year at the club last season after arriving in a move from Bayern Munich, where he had struggled to establish himself after his early success at Ajax.
It proved to be a similar story under Jurgen Klopp, who failed to find a regular place for the midfielder in his last season in charge at Liverpool.
Slot, though, has turned things around, installing Gravenberch as the new lynchpin of his midfield set up after the failed move for Martin Zubimendi in the summer transfer window.
Gravenberch has fully rewarded that faith with his performances since, impressing everyone in a new number six role that few had predicted he would thrive in.
It’s been a complete transformation from the frustrating, stop start first year he endured with Liverpool last season, and he’s now explained what went on behind the scenes to make it happen.
“I have indeed started playing more defensively. Last year I went forward more often, but now I have to think more defensively,” he said.
“That change happened quite quickly. I have Virgil (van Dijk) behind me to help me. If I go too far forward, he calls me back. ‘Rio, stay here!’. I notice that he has to shout less and less often and that I focus more on defending. In attack I try to read the game. That often goes well.
“I didn’t play much at Bayern, but I always knew I would come out on top. I have become stronger through that period. It was mentally tough at times, but I learned a lot from it. It is an experience that is still useful to me today.
“Fortunately, I lived in Munich with my parents. We had many conversations, and they kept me calm. Now I can put it behind me. It’s great that I’m making a lot of minutes as a starting player again at Liverpool.
“The coach (Slot) called all the players for an interview. After the European Championships he called me to tell me how he saw me. Of course, he knew me from my time at Ajax, when he was at AZ and Feyenoord. He told me which position he wanted to use me in, and he put me at six.
“I went into it with an open mind. I played a lot on eights and when I was younger, I also played on sixes. That helps, but now other things are being asked. When I was younger, I was able to move forward. Then there was no Virgil to call me back to the back.”
