Joel Matip has expressed delight over his emergence as a key man in the Liverpool defence during the second half of the season, joking: "It's not the worst feeling".
At the start of the campaign, the 27-year-old found himself behind Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren in the pecking order to partner Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the back four.
Injuries to both players in December allowed Matip to make three consecutive starts, but that run was then cruelly ended by a broken collarbone sustained in the last second of a crucial 1-0 win over Napoli.
However, since returning to full fitness in January, the former Cameroon international has nailed down a starting spot, with neither Gomez or Lovren able to displace him.
And Matip is glad to have been able to prove his worth in recent months.
In Pictures | Liverpool squad in Marbella | 20/05/2019
"At the beginning of the season I was struggling with injuries and other lads did very well, so there was no reason to change," he told the club's official website.
"But in the second half I could play and could improve. I feel good.
"You are waiting for this. And then if you can use it, it's not a bad feeling - it's not the worst feeling."
Matip's form and Jurgen Klopp's emphasis on continuity makes him the favourite to once again line up alongside Van Dijk when Liverpool bring their season to a close by facing Tottenham in the Champions League Final on June 1.
On that game, he added: "It was a great season and we can finish it. It's the biggest game during this season and we will do everything for this.
"It will be a completely different game, but we know we can beat them and we are looking forward."
