‘Talks a lot with me’… Wataru Endo shares what Jurgen Klopp said to him after signing for Liverpool

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Wataru Endo has shared what he and Jurgen Klopp talked about after the Japan captain signed for Liverpool.

Endo joined the Reds in a surprise move from Stuttgart over the summer. Having been frustrated in pursuits of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, Liverpool turned to the 30-year-old.

So far, Endo has struggled a little to get up to speed. But slowly, the defensive midfielder is starting to find his feet. And in quotes from The Daily Mail today, Endo admitted that although he’d found the Premier League tougher than expected, he’s happy with his recent improvement.

“Yes, it’s harder than I thought, but I’m very happy to be here,” Liverpool’s No.3 explained. “Physically, it’s speedy, so it’s very hard to adapt but it’s the Premier League and I keep trying and keep playing and I’ll get better.

“I’m already 30-years-old but I feel I have a chance to grow as a football player so I’m so happy to be here and I can improve. After I got here I had a talk with the boss about how Liverpool play. After that I just try to do that and he talks a lot with me about it.

“Every time I try to help Liverpool play and of course I always watch what they do from the bench. I think it is an important thing and I am getting better and better.”

Endo admits to Liverpool struggles

That first conversation between Klopp and new signing has arguably never been as important as when Endo arrived this summer.

Usually, the players Liverpool bring in are upwardly mobile and ready to make their mark at the club.

They also tend to be from clubs who share a similar philosophy as Liverpool. Think of the other players brought in with Endo in the off-season.

Brighton aren’t obviously quite of the stature of the Reds, but play a stylish, attacking game under Roberto De Zerbi. The philosophical mirroring’s of the Red Bull clubs and Liverpool are well-documented, while Bayern Munich need no introduction.

Although all players have to undergo a period of adaptation to Jurgen’s specific instructions, it’s no doubt easier for those who come from the likes of the three teams above.

For Endo, things were completely different. At Stuttgart, he became used to being in a team who were regularly second-favourites.

As a defensive midfielder, what’s expected of him in a team like that against a dominating team like Liverpool is night and day.

Consequently, it’s no wonder that it’s taken Endo a little more time than others to bed in at Anfield. But Jurgen has a way of explaining things. Bit by bit, the manager’s instructions are being implemented by his summer signing on the pitch. Keep on improving, Wataru!