There are moments when you only realize how important someone truly is after they are gone.
Liverpool secured a victory over Brighton in the FA Cup fourth round, yet one name was missing from the team sheet — Wataru Endo. It felt strange. Not long ago, he was always there in midfield, winning the ball, reading danger, and quietly supporting the team. That image still comes to mind naturally.
Endo is not the kind of player who dazzles with flair. But perhaps that is exactly why his absence is felt so strongly now.
Many fans, myself included, have begun to understand just how big his presence really was.
A Player Who Supported the Team Quietly
Endo is not a goal-scorer who fills highlight reels.
He is not a player who excites the crowd with flashy dribbles.
And yet, he wins possession.
He senses danger.
He covers for teammates when they move forward.
Each of those small, consistent actions helped hold the team together. It all seemed so natural, so routine, that we rarely stopped to think about how important it was.
That may be why we only notice his true value now.
You Notice Him Only When He’s Gone
There is something difficult to describe about the kind of presence you only recognize in its absence. It’s like air — we don’t think about it constantly, but without it, nothing functions.
Since Endo has been unable to play, there are moments during matches when something feels slightly different.
A defensive transition.
A loose ball in midfield.
And suddenly the thought appears:
“That’s where Endo would have been.”
Nothing has drastically changed. The team still plays well. But there is a subtle sense that something is missing.
He may not be the most eye-catching player, but he was always there — quietly supporting the structure of the team.
That was Wataru Endo’s presence.
Commitment to the Team
At a club filled with world-class talent, Endo has consistently fulfilled the role asked of him.
Not to stand out.
But to keep the team stable.
To put his body on the line in dangerous moments.
Those efforts built trust, step by step.
Before long, he became the kind of player who simply blended into the flow of the game — appearing exactly where he was needed, at exactly the right time.
That kind of reliability is not flashy. But it is invaluable.
He Will Return
Right now, he cannot be on the pitch. But I believe he will come back.
The reason is simple — the mentality he has shown throughout his career. When he returns, I imagine he will once again take his place in midfield as if nothing had changed, quietly supporting the team.
He doesn’t need a dramatic comeback.
He doesn’t need to be at the center of attention.
Just winning the ball.
Just helping his teammates.
That will be enough.
And I look forward to the day we can see that familiar scene again.
Pride in Having Endo at Liverpool
With changes in the team structure, Endo’s playing time had already begun to decrease. Even so, he never stopped preparing himself, never lost focus, and always stayed ready.
Having a player like that at Liverpool is something to be proud of.
I believe that the “ordinary” sight of him standing in midfield will return again. And I can say that with confidence because I believe in Wataru Endo — the player, and the person.