News'It felt less painful because of that' - why Wataru Endo was brought to tears after getting injured
Wataru Endo was brought to tears by the backing he received from Liverpool’s away support when he got injured against Sunderland.
The No.3 is currently in rehab after undergoing surgery on the foot problem he sustained while making a crucial defensive intervention during the Reds’ 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light in February.
The injury caused Endo to be stretchered from the pitch – after, in typically selfless fashion, he had got to his feet to help his side defend a corner.
And, in the latest episode of Kodansha’s Red Machine podcast series, the Japan captain recalls: “I still remember that the cross came into the box and I just tried to clear it outside of the goal… I think I put my whole weight on my left foot and then it got injured. It was painful, of course!
“I was thinking [that] I couldn’t play anymore. [I got up] because Robbo [Andy Robertson] told me, ‘We have to defend this corner so if you can just try to do it and then after we defend the corner you go down again.’
“I just tried to stand up but it was so painful... I just wanted to help the team even if I got injured.
“It was painful. The doctor asked me if I could stand up and walk off the pitch but I said no and I was crying a little bit... I was not crying because it was painful, it was because our fans were singing my song and that means a lot to me.
“I think it felt less painful because of that and I really appreciate it because I haven’t played a lot of games this season, but I always try to help the team even if I just play five minutes or 10 minutes, it doesn’t matter. But in that moment I could feel that our fans were still trying to support me and that meant a lot.
“[Also] I’ve got a lot of comments on social media after the injury. I really appreciate it. They take care of me. It helped me a lot to keep me motivated.”
Endo will be supporting his teammates when Liverpool’s season resumes this weekend, following the March international break.
First up is an Emirates FA Cup quarter-final away to Manchester City on Saturday lunchtime, before the Reds visit Parc des Princes to take on holders Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their last-eight tie in the Champions League.
Endo adds: “I think now everyone knows that’s going to be our goal in this season: we still have a chance to win the Champions League and the FA Cup, so I think we are trying to win both of them.”