Shoe lost, chance only used to a limited extent

Ryan Gravenberch was only allowed to play a little at Bayern Munich this season, which he publicly complained about several times. The 20-year-old midfielder got his chance against Werder Bremen, but only used it to a limited extent. Several Premier League clubs are said to be interested in him.

Ryan Gravenberch showed exemplary commitment in FC Bayern Munich’s 2-1 win over Werder Bremen on Saturday: When the 20-year-old midfielder got his right shoe kicked off at the beginning of the second half, he just kept playing in his white socks and straddled Jens Stage around. It was the most spectacular scene of a decent but pale performance (in a decent but pale team).

Because his rival Leon Goretzka, who was recently weak but still set, was absent from Bremen with a yellow card, Gravenberch was allowed to start for once. It was the chance he’d been waiting for weeks. For the first time since the 2-3 defeat against Borussia Mönchengladbach (“soft-washed pack”) almost three months ago, he was in the starting XI. In fact, it was only his fifth starting eleven this season. In the previous 46 games of the season he only had 820 minutes of play.

As a mix of six and eight between Joshua Kimmich and Jamal Musiala, Gravenberch managed a few clever passes in midfield. Otherwise, despite his 1.90 meter tall body, he hardly appeared and was substituted in the 64th minute. Gravenberch’s performance was not in itself a recommendation for further assignments – but probably still better than what Goretzka had offered in the previous weeks. The 28-year-old should still return to the starting XI against FC Schalke 04.

FC Bayern: The statistics speak for Leon Goretzka

Most recently, there was a fundamental lack of understanding among many fans, as well as among Gravenberch himself, as to why Goretzka was always given preference despite his form crisis. Coach Thomas Tuchel emphasized Gravenberch’s good training performance, but didn’t want to rotate too much in the decisive phase of the season. “It’s hard to try things now,” he said in mid-April. “Now it’s about being patient for him.”

For his justifications, Tuchel could have used statistics, because they actually speak mostly for Goretzka: On average, he wins the ball more often, loses it less often, closes more often, has more goals involved and wins more duels. Gravenberch is only ahead in terms of pass rate and the number of ball contacts.

FC Bayern: The midfielders in comparison

Ryan Gravenberch’s disappointing season at Bayern Munich

Last summer there was initially nothing to indicate this disappointing development: After moving from Ajax Amsterdam to FC Bayern for 18.5 million euros, Gravenberch completed excellent preparation. “To be honest, I’m most enthusiastic about Ryan. He hardly loses a ball. He will give us a lot of joy,” praised Kimmich at the time.

At the start of the season, Goretzka was injured – but coach Julian Nagelsmann ordered Marcel Sabitzer into the starting XI instead of Gravenberch. The Austrian was allowed to play until Goretzka regained his regular place after surviving knee surgery.

In the winter, Sabitzer fled to Manchester United on loan. Gravenberch missed out on being called up to the Dutch World Cup squad due to a lack of match practice, but stayed with FC Bayern. Nothing has changed in his role as a substitute since then, nor with the change of coach.

Ryan Gravenberch complains – and arouses interest

As early as autumn, he publicly complained for the first time about too few game shares, and in April he followed up in two interviews. “I definitely hoped and also expected that I would play more at Bayern. So far it hasn’t gone as expected,” he said Ajax Showtime. “I’d rather be successful at Bayern. But if that doesn’t work out and I don’t get any chances, then maybe I should look elsewhere.”

In any case, there seems to be a lot of interest in him elsewhere, especially in the Premier League. Manchester City, Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC are said to have a concrete interest in a commitment. Liverpool officials have apparently already negotiated with Gravenberch’s father. Loud sky However, FC Bayern is not thinking of giving up Gravenberch, who is tied until 2027, prematurely. After all, it was quite difficult to get him to Munich in the first place last year in a competition with numerous other interested parties.

Meanwhile, the competitive situation in midfield is likely to intensify further in the summer: Sabitzer could return from his loan, Konrad Laimer is coming on a free transfer from RB Leipzig and, according to reports, Tuchel also wants a Casemiro-like six.