Japan midfielder Wataru Endo has not had many opportunities to play since Arne Slot took over as manager. He sometimes starts in cup competitions, but in the Premier League and other competitions he has increasingly played only short spells in the second half, often finishing the game on the bench.
He has often been linked with a move to Liverpool, but is training hard to regain regular football at the club. When he is on the pitch, he has exceeded expectations and has been a steady performer at centre-back this season.
Former German midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, who played for Endo’s old clubs Stuttgart and Aston Villa during his playing days, paid tribute to the attitude of the Japan captain, who may not play every game, but responds with his best when on the pitch.
“He’s a manager’s dream, because you have a very good player who might not play for 20 games, but if he starts the 21st, he just does exactly what is asked of him.”
“Sometimes you want players to be upset at not playing but he’s not the type of player to cause any problems. The best compliment you can pay him is that he just functions. It sounds like a negative, but in a way it is exactly what you want.”
“When you have players like that, you just let them get on with it. He’s super-professional and such a family man. He smiles and you think everything is OK. His English isn’t bad but you don’t really get much out of him. He was just happy to train and be a family man – a husband and a father.”
BBC Sport