Gravenberch reflects on "mentally tough" time at Bayern: "I was going crazy" | OneFootball

Expectations were high when Ryan Gravenberch moved from Ajax to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2022.

However, the Dutch midfielder struggled to find his footing in Germany and left after just one year to join Liverpool, where he has since become an important player.

In an interview with Helden Magazine (via Daily Mirror), Gravenberch reflected on his difficult time with the Bavarians, which took a significant mental toll.

Though occasionally included in the team, he never secured a consistent starting spot and didn’t feel like a key part of Bayern’s Bundesliga-winning squad in 2022/23.

“I was going crazy in my head. I was lucky my parents had moved to Munich for me. I don’t know what would have happened if I had been out there just on my own… it was really tough mentally,” Gravenberch said.

"I was happy we were champions, but my contribution was small. I know we stood there as champions but I did not feel like a champion at all. It was a totally different feeling from all the other times I won trophies. Under Nagelsmann, I would go three matches in a row spending 90 minutes watching my team. That is when I started to go crazy in my head. In the winter I was totally done with it.

“During the last two months of the season under Tuchel, I got more minutes than in the entire period before. I remember how I felt at Bayern, but I know I have managed to climb out of that low. And that is what I am proud of.”

Gravenberch’s father, also named Ryan, shared his perspective on his son’s challenging year in Germany as well.

“I think if we had not been there with him, he would have landed in a depression. The whole Bayern Munich adventure never worked out like he expected. He was working really hard, but he was never given a chance to shine,” he said.

“At that time, we could not dream that he would get a transfer to Liverpool and that Arne Slot would become his coach. When I look at what has happened to him with Slot and Liverpool, I have to say in all honesty that he has gone from hell to heaven.”