Champions League
Gravenberch “plays”: Kimmich’s advice to Bayern’s ball stealer
Ryan Gravenberch of Munich in action. photo
© Sven Hoppe/dpa
Ryan Gravenberch is considered a great midfield talent. The problem of the new signing at FC Bayern has prominent names: Kimmich, Goretzka, Sabitzer. But the Musiala example shows what is possible.
Ryan Gravenberch can once again present himself more intensively at FC Bayern against Inter Milan. “Plays,” answered coach Julian Nagelsmann in one word when asked whether the 20-year-old Dutchman would play at the end of the Champions League group stage on Tuesday evening (9 p.m. / Amazon Prime Video) in the Allianz Arena.
Nagelsmann had previously announced that he would rotate in the game that was no longer decisive for the Munich team, who were first in the group. Some of the regulars of the German record champions should play a little less against the second in the table or even take a breather.
Gravenberch, who signed for almost 20 million euros from Ajax Amsterdam in the summer and has a five-year contract, has so far only been able to show his talent in a dosed manner in the Bayern jersey. Despite this, he is very well respected among his colleagues. “Ryan has already shown a lot and will show us a lot more,” said international Joshua Kimmich in the press conference for the Inter game.
“They just have a very good squad”
Gravenberch’s problem has prominent names. In midfield he has experienced top players like Kimmich (27), Leon Goretzka (27) and Marcel Sabitzer (28) in front of him. “Ryan played an outstanding preparation,” Kimmich recalled. But also Sabitzer, who was allowed to play next to Kimmich on the double six at the beginning of the season. Goretzka is now back there again. The national player was out at the beginning of the season due to a knee injury.
“We simply have a very good squad,” said Kimmich. Gravenberch can usually only prove himself as a substitute. Kimmich was impressed by his performance a week ago in the 3-0 win over FC Barcelona. “I thought Ryan’s come-in was outstanding against Barça. He stole a lot of balls from us.”
Kimmich advises patience
Gravenberch’s offensive qualities have been known for a long time, but he is also improving defensively. “He shows in training and in the game that he is very good with the ball, has good speed dribbling and can really make yards there. But in Barcelona he also showed us that he can give us something defensively,” praised Kimmich. As a young professional, he too had to wait for opportunities in his early days at Bayern Munich. That’s why his advice to Gravenberch is: “He just has to be patient and keep working hard.”
A good example is the only 19-year-old Jamal Musiala. “In the end it’s about the quality. And it doesn’t matter whether you’re 19 or 32. We see that with Jamal, who brings his quality to the pitch every three days,” said Kimmich.