TSG vs. LFC – The tie of the year

“It’s simply a dream! Who cares if we get knocked out. We’re just going to enjoy the two games!” and “Great draw, I’ll be there. Even if we don’t go through, you can hold your heads up high no matter what! If you want to be the best, you have to take on the best. Fingers crossed!” were examples of just some of the reaction to TSG’s draw on Facebook.

Alexander Rosen couldn’t hide his delight ahead of the clash with Liverpool: “It’s truly special. Before the draw, I was quite nervous. It’s a huge task but we’re going into it with nothing to lose. We’re just glad to be part of such an elite group of teams around the continent. Now we’re excited to face a team including the likes of Klopp and Firmino. It makes an already great occasion a spectacular one.”

Hoffenheim versus Liverpool was by far the biggest tie of the play-offs, with the two legs to be played on the 15th and 23rd of August 2017. Interest in TSG rose to previously unseen levels, with over 150 journalists registering for accreditation at the WIRSOL Rhein-Neckar-Arena.

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In the first leg, Hoffenheim were on a par with the Reds and showed their capacity to play free-flowing, eye-catching football. However, they lost the tie 2-1 as TSG failed to make the most of the opportunities they created. The key difference between the two sides was experience. TSG were facing a side who had won more European titles than Hoffenheim had played matches in Europe. Despite this, they had managed to stay in the tie and showed the watching world that TSG were a worthy opponent for Liverpool.

Shortly before Christmas, Julian Nagelsmann spoke about his 2017 highlights. His answer was short and snappy. “The first leg against Liverpool. Though we lost, we showed in that tie that we can perform with the best in Europe on our day.” It could have been an even more special day for TSG in hindsight. If only, Andrej Kramaric had converted his penalty in the first half but, despite the ifs and buts, TSG headed to Liverpool two weeks later with a 2-1 deficit to overcome.

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Now to Anfield. TSG took the pilgrimage to a true footballing temple. Ahead of the second leg, the Liverpool fans tried to put into words how “different” Anfield under the lights is when compared to any other atmosphere around the world. “When those floodlights come on, Anfield seems to generate some form of extra power”. However, TSG have visited the likes of Frankfurt, Bremen and Dortmund and know what a loud atmosphere is, but Anfield was something different altogether. As “You’ll Never Walk Alone” rang out on the terraces, TSG knew they were somewhere special. They had to try and not let the environment over face them but struggled. Hoffenheim had never experienced anything like it, and in the first 21 minutes, Emre Can bagged a brace and Mo Salah scored to make it 3-0, leaving TSG’s Champions League group stage dreams in tatters.

However, in the second half, with little more than pride at stake, TSG were the better side and didn’t capitulate. The final score was 4-2 to the Reds which meant Liverpool progressed into the Champions League group stage, whereas the Kraichgau club headed for the Europa League. However, those two days in August 2017 were an extraordinary experience for the club as a whole. Over 2,00 fans travelled to England and marched to Anfield as one.

“Our trial was too short”

TSG may have been eliminated from the Champions League, but they still manage to acquire respect and admiration from many footballing fans around Europe due to their impressive, courageous displays against a giant like Liverpool. If things had swung more in TSG’s favour, we easily could be looking back on a huge scalp for Hoffenheim. Kevin Vogt reflected on the tie: “I’ve developed a taste for the Champions League now, and so have the rest of the lads. We’ve now all experienced the feeling of walking out onto the pitch to the Champions League anthem. Our experience was too short for our liking. We want more and are working hard to his season to put us back into a position to be in this competition once again next year. It’s a huge challenge, but life is about taking on challenges. I don’t want that to be the last time I hear the Champions League anthem on the pitch.”

It’s certainly possible for the lads to have similar experiences to the ones they had in August once again – maybe even as soon as next season...