Not many players have been able to get near Ryan Gravenberch on the pitch this season, but one man has spent the year with an arm around his shoulder.
Virgil van Dijk, the Liverpool captain who describes Gravenberch as his ‘little brother’, has been guiding his compatriot through a stellar campaign that leaves him as strong favourite to win the Premier League young player of the year.
Whether it be in his ear non-stop about fitness and recovery, spending time lecturing him about learning the deep-lying midfielder role or even this week, showing him video clips of the 2019 trophy parade when Liverpool won the Champions League, the pair have been inseparable.
The Van Dijk influence has rubbed off, with Gravenberch having a simply sensational campaign at the beating heart of the Arne Slot machine. And the midfielder has loved every single minute.
‘Personally, I feel that if you had said this (that Liverpool would be champions) to me before the start of the season I wouldn’t have believed you,’ he says as he leans back in his chair with a beaming grin. ‘But everything we dreamed of came true. I’m really happy.
‘(The Tottenham game) was amazing. I’ve never heard Anfield as loud as this. I think for everyone it was amazing, to secure the title, I saw only happy faces in the stadium.
Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has enjoyed a sensational season at the club
He spent time learning about his deeper role in midfield from ‘big brother’ Virgil van Dijk
Gravenberch has been the beating heart of the Arne Slot machine and has loved every minute
‘I saw some clips this week from Virg when they had the parade for the Champions League. And there were so many people, so I’m so excited about Monday and what’s happening now.’
Gravenberch, 23, was a squad player last season and struggled to get a consistent run of games – but has started every game but one in the Premier League since Arne Slot took over, the only outlier was when he was rested due to the title already being won.
But Slot got on the phone to Gravenberch during the summer to outline to him that he saw him as a No 6 this season – which the Dutchman, once of Ajax and Bayern Munich, says helped mould him into the star he is today.
Asked if he feels at home in the deeper role now, he says: ‘Yes, to be honest. Obviously I didn’t play a lot in that position before but this season that position has made me who I am now. I am really looking forward to playing there now.
‘I am not naturally a defensive midfielder. I also like to drive forward with the ball. But it’s been good so far.
‘It was not easy to be honest! It might have looked easy but it was not. A lot of work, not only me, also the coaches and the other players on the pitch. For example, Virgil, who helped me a lot to adapt to this role.
‘And John Heitinga (one of Slot’s assistants). A really big help. At the club you have mentors and he is my mentor. I knew him from my time at Ajax so he also knew me well. I watched clips with him, I had conversations with him about the position.
‘The attacking part was good but the defending part I had to learn in terms of the duels, sometimes not watching my man properly, but I think I made a lot of steps with that as well.
He has started every game but one in the Premier League since Slot took over last summer
Slot fashioned Gravenberch into a No 6, helping to mould him into the star he is today
Gravenberch, 23, has reflected on a memorable year and will also become a father
‘I can improve in terms of goals and assists from that position. Also in terms of demanding the ball more during a game. Sometimes in a game there’s like five minutes where I don’t touch the ball. In that position you have to make the play happen.
‘Last season I didn’t play a lot so I didn’t recover really well. Maybe I wasn’t really that professional about it. But this season I’ve focused more on recovery. For example, going to the sauna, going to the ice baths properly, Virgil was a big part of that in terms of giving me advice.’
Gravenberch admits teams started to target him as the season went on and says Liverpool can be less ‘static’ to improve next year, or for him and Alexis Mac Allister switch roles in-game to make them more difficult to press.
But that is an issue for later in the summer, for now his mind is focused on celebrating being a Premier League winner – and getting himself ready to become a father for the first time later this year, with his partner expecting a baby.
‘It’s a special year,’ he concludes. ‘I’m really happy that I could be a father, and I’m really looking forward to it. I am looking forward to it, a little nervous too, but it’s a few months left, so we have time.’
Ryan Gravenberch was speaking as an ambassador of the Cruyff Foundation at the opening of a Cruyff Court in Anfield.
