"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," said the Spaniard.
"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."