If Jurgen Klopp was entering the eye of the storm in his Tuesday press conference, he weathered it sublimely.
It wasn't long before the Liverpool boss was due to speak to the assembled media when news broke that Joachim Low was to step down as Germany boss after 15 years in charge.
Eyes had barely reached the end of the succinct statement from the German Football Association when the rumours began to fly.
Klopp, in the midst of his worst run as Liverpool manager, would be the perfect solution for Germany, it was claimed.
Having previously suggested he would one day like to preside over matters of the Mannschaft, Klopp's odds came tumbling down.
Of course, there is plenty of merit to that train of thought.
As one of the most high-profile managers in the sport and having followed up his trophy-laden years at Borussia Dortmund with even more historic achievement at Anfield, the idea of Klopp at the helm of his national team would appeal to those in his homeland.
The wait for that day, though, will go on.
"Am I available for the job of the national team in the summer? No," said Klopp. "After the summer, no.
"I said no, this or after this summer, whatever it may be, I will not be available as a potential Germany team coach.
"I have three years left at Liverpool. It's a simple statement. You sign a contract and you try to stick to that contract, don't you?"
Consider that a non-starter, then.
And despite a troubling three months or so at Anfield, the news will come as a huge sigh of relief to those of a Red faith.
After the speculation was cut down as impressively as it was sharply, attention turned to Klopp's next challenge at Liverpool.
Namely, the Champions League.
Truth be told, it represents the last game in town for anyone still hoping to end a wretched campaign on a high note.
Not least Klopp, who outlined the reasons behind his faith as the march to Istanbul resumes in Budapest on Wednesday night.
"Two things - the team, the moments we had on the pitch, the competition, the quality of the boys and football in general, you always have a chance in the next game and that is already enough," he said on reasons to be hopeful in Europe.
"How I said, it is half time and we have to play the game that gives us the opportunity to go through to the next round.
"If we play that well then we can do that and we deserve it. But if we don't, then not.
"So that is the situation and I have no doubts about us tomorrow. Not that I know we will go through 100 per cent, but I know we will give Leipzig a proper fight and that is the only thing I need to know in the moment.
"And the rest, there is no guarantee. Not for them, not for us. There's 95 minutes to use to get closer to the things you want."
But if he is to become the first Liverpool manager since Bob Paisley to win more than one European Cup, he will know his side simply have to improve against RB Leipzig in the Puskas Arena.
By now, you are likely aware of the grim statistics that Liverpool have been forced to confront.
They have picked up just 11 points from the 42 that have been on offer since Christmas.
It has led to the current Premier League champions slipping from top spot to eighth in that time as their defence of their 19th title has crumbled further by the week since the turn of the year.
There have been no goals at Anfield from open play in 2021, either - a run that is close to 12 hours at 708 minutes.
Since Sadio Mane bagged in the 12th minute against West Brom, way back on December 27, only a Mohamed Salah penalty - in the 4-1 defeat to Man City - has breached the opposition rearguard.
Liverpool have rarely looked like ending that appalling run either.
It took them 85 minutes for a tame header from Gini Wijnaldum to become their only shot on target against Chelsea last week, before Alphonse Areola was relatively untroubled in the loss to Fulham, save for one expert stop from Diogo Jota's volley.
Despite the paucity of their results since the 7-0 hammering of Crystal Palace on December 19, Klopp's position is rock solid.
Club owners Fenway Sports Group are steadfast in their conviction that the man that brought Liverpool a sixth European Cup, a first league title in three decades and a maiden Club World Cup should be given every opportunity to navigate his way out of choppy waters.
The German also retains the unequivocal support of the club's worldwide fanbase, too.
Some on social media continue to admonish others who are apparently no longer behind Klopp, but the reality is that those who aren't sit in the most marginal of percentages that little credence needs to be given to those views.
It is not a stance that is anywhere close to being widespread.
Indeed, the biggest threat to Klopp's future at Liverpool will be of his own making, given the Germany situation - and those questions were rebuked resoundingly on Tuesday afternoon.
"In my understanding, if you are really with us, you judge our situation right and you see that this is a really difficult year where unity could be shown in an even more special kind," Klopp said last week.
Liverpool is a parish that worships at the altar of Klopp. He is preaching to the converted.
