Jurgen Klopp’s recent comments about midfielder Wataru Endo were ‘bizarre’ as he should have known what type of player Liverpool were signing.
That’s according to Germany’s Sport 1, who have criticised the German manager for claiming the Japanese international’s polite nature may have cost him early on at Anfield.
Endo joined Liverpool from VfB Stuttgart in one of the more surprising moves of the summer transfer window, arriving as a low-cost option in defensive midfield after the departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho.
He’s endured something of a slow start to life on Merseyside since, finding himself in and out of the side and with a sporting record that is ‘more sobering than dreamy’ according to Sport 1.
Those were ‘bizarre words’ from Klopp according to the outlet, who believe the Liverpool coach should have been aware he was getting a ‘flawless professional’ and ‘quiet leader’ and not the opposite.
During his time at Stuttgart, Endo was often ‘inconspicuous and quiet in public’ and for them it is strange for Klopp to suggest that has been a negative for him at Anfield.
The German coach did follow that up with positives and insistence Endo would be playing in future, with his signing a long-term one rather than a short-term one as first thought.
Still, Sport 1 believe he was wide of the mark on this occasion and perhaps would do well to do a little more research on the player before commenting again.
