Patience isn’t one of the qualities you naturally associate with Jurgen Klopp given his manic touchline gestures that accompany the ferocity of his players.
Yet the German knows when to play the long game – and Virgil Van Dijk’s role in taking Liverpool to the Champions League final proves it.
Although Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane have grabbed headlines all season, it was the reassuring presence of their £75million defender that meant a remarkable semi-final comeback from Roma was never on the cards despite a spirited attempt and two late goals to give them victory on the night.
Virgil van Dijk (L) played a major part in Liverpool getting to the Champions League final
Jurgen Klopp passionately celebrates his side scoring a goal as Liverpool play Roma
With 80,000 packed into the Stadio Olimpico, Van Dijk looked and played the part of a commander-in-chief at the back until the job was effectively done.
This is why Klopp ignored huge pressure to sign another centre-half in the summer when the club botched their move for Van Dijk.
He waited until the Dutchman was available in January and boy has it worked.
Roma were 5-2 down from the first leg and Liverpool knew the Italians would come at them.
The Dutchman (R) withstood nearly everything Roma had to throw at Liverpool in the first half
Van Dijk, the perfect build for a defender, took responsibility for marking danger-man Edin Dzeko and withstood nearly everything Roma had to throw at Liverpool in the opening 45 minutes, winning headers, blocking crosses and using his pace to help his team-mates out.
At one stage, he even took a boot in the face from Radja Nangollan for his troubles.
Liverpool scored first through Sadio Mane after nine minutes but Roma levelled with a fortuitous own goal off James Milner six minutes later.
The din in the stadium was incredible but Van Dijk remained calmness personified. He also used his tremendous power in the air to positive effect, twice challenging for headers in the Roma box to create space for countryman Georginio Wijnaldum to head the visitors back in front.
The 26-year-old defender (right), clashes with Roma’s Patrik Schick on Wednesday evening
Van Dijk (L), the perfect build for a defender, took responsibility for marking Edin Dzeko (R)
It left Roma needing four goals. They got the first through Dzeko after 52 minutes following a blunder by Trent Alexander-Arnold but Liverpool survived the storm that followed.
By the time Naingollan scored Roma’s 86th-minute winner on the night, it was too late for them in the tie, even though the Belgian did add a fourth from the penalty spot with the last kick of the game to make the final scoreline closer than it looked.
Van Dijk has reached the top step-by-step, from Heerenveen in Holland to Celtic and then Southampton. Compared to other more technically gifted Dutch youngsters, he was sometimes treated with suspicion in his homeland. But he is the warrior and leader they say is lacking in the modern game.
On top of that, he is probably better in the air than any other defender in world football. He will now come up against the best attacking header in world football, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Klopp will back his man. And Liverpool fans should thank him for waiting before opening the chequebook when every phone-in was screaming at him to buy another centre-half, any centre-half, just nine months ago.
The Holland international is probably better in the air than any other defender in world football
Van Dijk is the leader they say is lacking in the modern game and Klopp’s patience has paid off