Joel Matip: It's really nice to be part of this
Joel Matip is unsure whether his recent run of fine form is the best spell of his Liverpool career, but insists he's just happy to be playing his part in the side's quest for glory.
The centre-half has started 19 out of the last 22 matches in all competitions, helping the Reds achieve a Premier League-high 21 clean sheets this season.
The 2018-19 campaign as a whole ends on Saturday when Liverpool contest their second successive Champions League final.
Matip previewed the Madrid encounter with Tottenham Hotspur during a press conference at Melwood on Tuesday morning.
Read on for a summary of the No.32's comments...
On the defensive improvement of the team...
I think, for sure, Virgil [van Dijk] made a big impact, but as a whole squad we improve a lot. It starts in the beginning - Roberto [Firmino], for example, is like the first defender. Ali [Alisson Becker] in the back, he is great against the ball and with the ball he does some amazing things.
On having the manager's faith...
I think it's not too bad for the self-confidence, but I always believed in myself. Now I have the opportunity to play and I just try to use it. But we have a lot of quality in the team. It doesn't matter who is coming in from the bench, they always want to show - and they showed. It's just a good team and it's really nice to be part of this.
On whether this is the best period of his Liverpool career...
It's really good that we have that many wins. I feel fine. It's hard to compare to other parts of my career, but I really enjoy the time now.
On what goes through the mind of a player in the build-up to a Champions League final...
It's a moment. I'm quite fine. Of course I know it's one of the biggest games, but at the moment I'm fine. I just want to enjoy that I have the opportunity. It's the kind of game you want to play as a kid and now you are there, it would be stupid to make more pressure than it is, even one week before. It doesn't help. In the game, the tension has to be there. But one week before, doing the training session OK, but not during all the day.
On playing alongside Van Dijk...
He did it great defensively. With the ball he is so calm and he wins his challenges in the air and on the ground. He gives the whole team much more stability and he did it very well.