Interview'I am very happy here' - Ryan Gravenberch assesses his first month with Liverpool
Liverpool already feels like home for Ryan Gravenberch, who has provided a detailed insight into an enjoyable first month with his new club.
A transfer-deadline-day arrival from Bayern Munich, Gravenberch has settled quickly both on and off the pitch and made his fourth appearance – and second start – for the Reds in Wednesday’s 3-1 Carabao Cup victory over Leicester City.
The Netherlands midfielder has registered an assist in each of his two starts and is yet to experience anything other than victory in a Liverpool shirt.
“Everything goes well. I am very happy to be here and it’s now a month already, so it feels great. I am very happy to be here,” Gravenberch told Liverpoolfc.com at the AXA Training Centre.
“If I am honest, the team is very good with each other and they give me a warm welcome. When I need something I can ask them and they will help me with it.
“Of course, I have to learn a little bit the system from the coach [and] what he wants from me, but when I look to the games that I played I think it goes well and we can grow on that.”
Jürgen Klopp and his staff – including Gravenberch’s compatriot Pepijn Lijnders – are conducting both individual and collective work with the 21-year-old, who is eager to get up to speed as quickly as possible.
“That [general work] also and I think with the coaches, [they are] working with me on counter-pressing,” the No.38 replied, when asked about his daily agenda.
“I think counter-pressing is the thing that he [the manager] wants to put inside of me, inside of my head [to] directly think of it, so I think counter-pressing is the [main] thing.
“He [Lijnders] explains to me a lot, also before the games and in the half-times. I like it because he speaks also Dutch so he can explain.”
Gravenberch teed up fellow Dutchman Cody Gakpo to slot home the equaliser in Wednesday’s win against Leicester and his first experience of starting a home game for Liverpool was as special as he hoped it would be.
“When I walked outside, you hear the You’ll Never Walk Alone song and it feels special, you know, when you go on the pitch. It’s such a good feeling to go into the game. It’s special to be here and it gave me a good feeling as well,” he said.
The physicality of English football is a trait that newcomers often have to adapt to – and Gravenberch is no different.
“I think in England it’s more physical and the intensity is also a lot higher than where I came from,” he noted.
“Also for me, like against Leicester City, they are a Championship team but of course they came from the Premier League, and you see the intensity that they are playing with. That’s the thing to adapt to, so we are working on it.
“Especially for me, last season I didn’t play so much so that’s the thing that I have to adapt with.”
This article has been automatically translated and, while all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, some errors in translation are possible. Please refer to the original English-language version of the article for the official version.