Jurgen Klopp shares Ryan Gravenberch’s plan and approach to replace Fabinho
Klopp believes Gravenberch can become Fabinho’s long-term successor as Liverpool’s specialist defensive midfielder. Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch in training at the AXA Training Center on September 14, 2023 in Kirkby, England.
Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch in training at the AXA Training Center on September 14, 2023 in Kirkby,
Jurgen Klopp has described Ryan Gravenberch’s chances of becoming Fabinho’s long-term successor, dismissing the new Liverpool midfielder’s difficult year at Bayern Munich as a “normal step” in his development.
Dutchman Gravenberch joined on deadline day for a fee that could rise to £40m after one season in Munich, where he started just a handful of his 34 games and managed just nine minutes during that spell. Klopp believes the difficult campaign he has endured is typical of a young player joining such a big club at the age of 20, and the Reds boss believes the versatile midfielder could be the best replacement for the No .6 from Fabinho after the match at Anfield. The Brazilian moved to Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad in July. “I didn’t mention [the location], [Bayern Munich boss] Thomas Tuchel said it!” Klopp said where Gravenberch fits best. “I think he definitely has the potential to play as a number 6 in the future. The only thing about Alexis Mac Allister – he can play that position – is that he’s a classic 6, how would you pull that off? Probably not. The position. in football has changed over the years. “He’s so good that I don’t want to talk about things he’s not good at yet. They all have skills and yes they need to improve and he knows that and he’s trying but the natural things are there and everything else takes time and so on. it’s He’s 8, he can play 10, sure, and yes, in time he can play 6. How Curtis [Jones] could play 6, they have to get used to different spaces and responsibilities. “It’s not the most difficult position. world, it’s just one where you have to hold back a little from time to time. Hendo fought until the end and made some spectacular plays in the sixth. [He would say] “But I can’t participate in this or that?” Such was the situation. “But apart from that [Gravenberch] is a real talent. So now we have to see. Obviously we have good players and we don’t need to push him because he’s new, it’s a medium-to-long-term project and he. ” I’m definitely with us and we have enough opportunities to play.”
Regarding Gravenberch’s season-long stay in Germany, Klopp added: “It’s a normal situation in a career, I only know one player who is always at the top and that’s Lionel Messi. And even he probably doesn’t always have spikes and everything else is part of football. That’s not a problem. “Otherwise playing for Bayern Munich there are no big ups and downs and it would have happened to a lot of players, he played a few games. Bayern is a pretty good team and they have a lot of players, so it can definitely happen. It’s not. “low” [ what happened at Bayern], it’s a normal career step.”