dThe Gravenberch boys are not afraid of change. While Ryan's relatively short career has included him in three of Europe's most historic clubs, his older brother Dansel has played for 13 different teams as a nomad. And the boss has a span of eight years to thank for taking him to the heights he has reached.
Ryan Gravenberger's CV includes spells at Ajax, Bayern Munich and now Liverpool. Danzell Gravenberch's CV began before Universitatea Cluj, Reading and Karmiotissa were added to the long list, bringing a diverse set of experiences that began with intense schoolboy activities in Amsterdam. This season, the younger brothers have become part of a team that is at the top of the Premier League thanks to a great start under coach Arne Slott, playing as the team's most impressive number 6, and this will be tested when. Chelsea visit Anfield on Sunday.
“I saw it when I was a kid. [Danzell] We played, and when we were a little older I went to play with him in the street, he was a big boy, so it was difficult for me,” Gravenberch remembers. “He made me tough, I became strong, he did everything for me.”
Under Jurgen Klopp, Gravenberch made 12 league starts and 14 substitute appearances in his first season at Anfield, and has not been a regular for Bayern either. Before moving to Merseyside. The career of an exceptional talent seemed to have begun to stagnate. However, things have changed since Slott's arrival, and Gravenberch has become a pillar for his compatriot, helping Liverpool's defense play forward, as well as controlling games and generally bringing everything together in the midfield.
“We played direct football with Klopp and counter-pressed a lot,” says Gravenberch. “I think we did well, but with this coach I think it's more about positioning well, killing opponents with passes and playing from the back.”
Gravenberch was in a deeper position than he was used to and many were sceptical, but the statistics show that the Dutch midfielder has made a perfect transition. Gravenberch has won 59.3% of his duels this season, leads Liverpool in recoveries and interceptions, as well as a healthy passing rate of 89.7%. More importantly, he has been key for a team that has won six of its seven Premier League games.
“It's nice, but to be honest, I'm not a natural defensive number 6 because I need to adapt more,” says Gravenberch. “First of all [at the start of his career] I was more of an attacking midfielder, so I have to adapt more. I think the first games were really good, but I have to keep improving. We have a lot of possession, I have a lot of ball, that's what I wanted, it's good, it's comfortable.
“I spoke with Maka [Alexis Mac Allister] Because he played a lot last season. [Wataru] Endo what they did, anticipating where the ball would land, some small talk.
Enzo Maresca's Chelsea play with three attackers behind a central striker and Cole Palmer should give Gravenberch his toughest test yet. The England international has scored six goals and created another five goals in seven league games this season.
He makes the difference for Chelsea and keeping him calm will be key to Liverpool's chances of victory this weekend.
After newsletter promotion
Slott left out Gravenberg early on, preferring someone more comfortable as a defensive midfielder to get back to winning ways, although Liverpool have targeted Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi for the right role only in the summer. Eliminated by the Spanish international. “He called me after the Euros and said he wanted to give me a chance, and then he said, 'I want you to focus on the 8th, but I want to see you on the 6th,'” Gravenberch says. His initial contact with Slott came after the coach's arrival from Feyenoord.
“My first reaction was very good because as long as you play as a player it doesn't matter where you play. I also played this role when I played for Ajax, but not much, so I knew what I had to do.
At only 22 years old, Gravenberch could count on more experience than his older teammates. At 16 years and 130 days he became Ajax's youngest player, breaking the record previously held by Clarence Seedorf, who won four Champions League titles in a brilliant career. Gravenberger's hero is another former Real Madrid legend, Zinedine Zidane. “When you are a street child you want to be like him, what he achieved, you want to achieve,” he says. “For me, as a kid, I definitely wanted to win awards and go to the big teams.”
Gravenberch is once again on track to follow in the footsteps of his heroes, thanks to taking on new challenges from his continent-shaking brother and learning those lessons on the streets.
Liverpool will have Standard Chartered's 'Futuremakers' logo on the front of their shirts against Chelsea. For more information and a chance to bid on Ryan Gravenberch's distressed jersey, visit here.
