Korean Media: Multiple Japanese Players Struggling in the Premier League, Either Lacking Playing Time or Underperforming

The Premier League season has been underway for nearly a month now, and with cup matches interspersed, five rounds of games have already been completed. The performances of players from the Japanese national team during this period seem to be less notable. In particular, Wataru Endo from Liverpool and Takehiro Tomiyasu from Arsenal, two star players, have not been able to secure playing time due to fierce competition for positions and injury impacts.

In this context, Korean media outlet “Sports Chosun” published an article titled “The Challenges Faced by Japanese Players in the Premier League: A Captain Unable to Get on the Field, an Injured Central Defender, and a Struggling New Star,” analyzing the situations of Wataru Endo, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Daichi Kamada: “Wataru Endo is getting almost no playing time at Liverpool. Compared to last season when he was heavily relied upon by Klopp, he is now almost forgotten. This season, he has only played for 2 minutes. With the rise of young player Ryan Gravenberch, Endo can only sit on the bench, usually only being brought on towards the end of the game when the team needs to run down the clock. If this captain continues to lack playing opportunities, it will undoubtedly have adverse effects on the Japanese national team.”

“Takehiro Tomiyasu’s situation is even more severe. Although he is eager to return to the pitch, injuries have held him back. Even worse, it is unknown when he will be able to make a comeback. During Tomiyasu’s injury absence, a new talent like Tim Berenguer has emerged within Arsenal, performing exceptionally well. Even if Tomiyasu returns to full fitness, whether he can regain the trust of head coach Mikel Arteta remains uncertain.”

“This summer, Daichi Kamada joined Crystal Palace at the invitation of former coach Adi Hütter, but his start in the Premier League has not been smooth. Despite his impressive performance at Eintracht Frankfurt, where fans expected similar success in the Premier League, he has yet to score in the five games since the season began. Although he has started three times, overall, his presence on the field has been relatively weak.”

By contrast, Yuki Suga, who quickly became a mainstay at Southampton upon his Premier League debut, is seen as a new hope for Japanese football. Despite Southampton currently having only one draw and four losses, putting them under the threat of relegation, Suga’s individual performance is still commendable. Similarly, Kaoru Mitoma, who has been with Brighton for three seasons, remains a key member of the team, though his influence seems to have not reached its peak yet.

Facing the current situation, whether these five Japanese players can improve their status in the coming period has become a focus of attention for fans and the media.