Rafael Benitez admits he had to be convinced that Steve Finnan was good enough for Liverpool.
The Spaniard does not need any convincing now, having revealed his admiration for the Republic of Ireland international's professionalism and consistency.
Finnan had one of his best games for the club in the 3-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg triumph against PSV Eindhoven last week.
That result means Wednesday's second-leg clash between the sides is little more than a workout for the Anfield men, who will be more interested in the outcome of the Valencia-Chelsea tie in Spain, with the winners meeting Liverpool in the semi-finals.
Finnan may even be rested for the Anfield leg, such is the depth of boss Rafael Benitez's squad these days and the arrival of Alvaro Arbeloa from Deportivo la Coruna.
Benitez said: 'My aim is to have two good players for every position. We now have Arbeloa to push Finnan. It is something Steve has not had of late because we have not had top-level competition in his position.'
But Finnan now figures in Benitez's long-term plans, and talks will start soon on a new contract for the 30-year-old, who has one year left on his deal.
Benitez added: 'Finnan is a good player, he is very positive and the quality of his crosses is very good, as you saw in Eindhoven. He is a very professional person and a fine trainer. But maybe now we will see the best from him with Arbeloa arriving to give him more competition. But that does not apply only to Finnan. I want us to have two good players for every position. It is the same to have (Javier) Mascherano now to out pressure on (Xabi) Alonso.'
He continued: 'If you want to play four competitions at the maximum level, you need two good players for every position. When I first arrived I did not know too much about Finnan. I'd had reports but the season before I arrived he was not playing well, or at least not at this level.
'But he has improved, and for three years now he has been playing well. Maybe he has had to win me over. But Gerard Houllier told me he was a very good player, even though he is not the sort of player people talk too much about. He has quality and understands the game. I have seen that all in these last few years.'
Finnan has rarely been in a position where the spotlight is on him, a steady, consistent player but never with the glamour that surrounds the likes of Steven Gerrard.
Finnan said: 'Plaudits have never bothered me, it is something I have been asked many times but it is something that does not bother me. I am concerned only with the team winning and playing well collectively. There are other players in the side who do not get singled out for praise, but as long as we keep winning that is good enough for me.'
And on his future, he added: 'I would like to sign for more time, but that's up to other people. Everyone can see the club is heading in the right direction with the new owners. It's an exciting time. Everyone wants to be a part of it, especially me.'
