JAKARTA - The captain of the Japanese national team, Wataru Endo, will lead his team to appear against Vietnam in the inaugural match of Group D of the 2023 Asian Cup, Sunday, January 14 evening WIB. Ahead of the appearance, Endo actually discussed Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp.
Reporting from the official AFC website, Klopp did have time to express hope that Japan could be eliminated from the 2023 Asian Cup as soon as possible. The German coach made this statement because he needed Endo's staff in his team.
Asked about Klopp's statement during a press conference session, Endo revealed that the statement was just a joke from Klopp. However, the 30-year-old admitted that he was honored because Klopp's statement implied that he needed Endo's staff.
"It was just a joke from Jurgen (Klopp), but I feel very honored because he feels I need to go back to Liverpool. So that's important to me," Endo was quoted as saying on Sunday, January 14.
"But I'm here (the Japanese national team) now. I'm here as team captain and all I think about is winning trophies and bringing my medal back to Liverpool," he continued.
Endo is known to be a player Liverpool has just brought in from German club Stuttgart earlier this season. The 30-year-old had difficulty competing for the Reds core team at the start of his arrival.
This situation also made the team's midfield axis occupied by the Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai duo. However, Endo's performance has continued to climb since approaching half the season.
Klopp has always played Endo as a starter in Liverpool's last four games, until finally when he started showing his skills, Endo had to fulfill the Japanese national team's call to appear in the 2023 Asian Cup.
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