Let's talk about two different things.
Hoffenheim, returning to the League from the Champions League, seemed to have shed some heavy psychological burden, playing more confidently, fluidly, and even with a chilling sense of ease.
The core of this transformation was still Ollie. The new star striker, who had been racing like the wind down the right wing since the start of the season, was now given a broader, more crucial position by Nagelsmann.
Midfield pivot. Yes, after the game against Manchester City, Ollie was still playing in the midfield. The change in Ollie's position did not weaken his threat but instead unleashed his hidden organizational talent and overall vision. Now, he was no longer just the finisher but also the starting point and tempo-setter of the attack.
The next two rounds of the German Bundesliga perfectly demonstrated the maturity of this new tactical system. Playing away against a mid-to-lower-tier team, Hoffenheim played with ease. Ollie acted as a lubricant in the midfield, connecting the front and back lines, and a precise overhead long pass found an offside Grillitsch, assisting him to score.
In the second half, he himself sealed the 2-0 score with a calm push shot from the edge of the penalty area. The match process was not intense; Hoffenheim controlled the overall situation, and the opponent's counterattacks were sporadic and lacked threat. Returning home to face Freiburg, Hoffenheim unleashed its full firepower.
Ollie first used his keen sense to score a quick tap-in after the opponent's clearance error. Then, in a quick counter-attack, he displayed his broad vision, delivering a precise diagonal pass across half the field to a rapidly advancing Gnabry on the left wing. Gnabry went one-on-one and scored easily. Although the opponent scored one back from a set-piece opportunity in the second half, Hoffenheim quickly scored another goal through a different player, ultimately winning 3-1. Six points from two matches, easily secured.
In the two matches, Ollie delivered an impressive stat line of 2 goals and 2 assists, and his efficiency in the new position increased rather than decreased. On the Bundesliga top scorers list, 27 goals firmly cemented Ollie's name at the top, unshakeable, and with 15 goals on the Champions League top scorers list, he also stood out from the crowd. The title of "Youngest Ever Dual Top Scorer" shone like a halo, firmly placed on the head of the mere 17-year-old Ollie. On the League standings, Hoffenheim was still neck and neck with Bayern Munich, with no change in the two-horse race.
The League journey seemed to be progressing according to the script, steady and strong. However, outside the stadium, Hoffenheim was experiencing an unprecedented craze because of one person. The Ollie No. 17 craze. In the quiet town of Sinsheim, blue and white home jerseys with the large "Ollie 17" lettering began to become the most eye-catching sight on the streets. Not only Hoffenheim's official fan shop, but also ordinary sports stores in the town, and even some grocery store windows, were filled with or displayed Ollie's No. 17 jersey.
"Dad! I want that one! No. 17!" a local little boy excitedly pointed to the No. 17 jersey on the mannequin in the window, his face flushed red.
"Okay, I'll buy it for you now," the father said with a smile, his eyes full of indulgence and pride for his home team.
This craze was not limited to this German town. The viewership of Bundesliga live broadcasts on major sports platforms significantly increased, with countless eyes staying up late in front of screens, Just to watch the 17-year-old boy gallop across the green field. Every touch, every shot, every successful dribble, tugged at the heartstrings of hundreds of millions of fans.
Now, after defeating Manchester City, Hoffenheim's official account's follower count soared like a rocket. The club's operations team was almost on a 24-hour rotation, handling the massive amount of interaction from the world.mThey deeply realized that Ollie was not only the core on the field but also the key to unlocking a potentially massive fan base.
Soon, a meticulously produced short video was released through Hoffenheim's global official platforms, with a prominent title:
"Thanks from Hoffenheim — To All The Fans Around The World!"
The video began with a stunning shot of the Rhein-Neckar Arena's cheering crowd, then switched to clips of Ollie training diligently on the training ground and chatting cheerfully with teammates. The background music was warm and inspiring. Then, the screen froze on a close-up of Ollie facing the camera.
In the video, Ollie, wearing a neat Hoffenheim training uniform, with slightly damp hair and a sunny, sincere smile, looked at the camera and spoke in clear German with a Birmingham accent:
"Hello everyone, I am Ollie, Hoffenheim's No. 17 player. Thank you very much to all fans for your continuous support and love. My teammates and I can feel every cheer and every message you send. I know that many of you stay up late in front of their screens to cheer us on, and this fills us with strength on the field. I will continue to work hard and repay everyone with even better performances!"
The video ended with Ollie and his teammates waving to the camera together, shouting in unison: "Thank you!"
This video was like a giant stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly causing a tsunami-like reaction in the fan community.
"Ollie's German is too standard!"
"Ollie is so handsome!!"
"Ollie is so handsome, he looks so good when he smiles!!"
"Hoffenheim's move is so fan-friendly!!"...
Comments and shares instantly exceeded a million.
Ollie's personal charm and the club's thoughtful response pushed the international market's attention and goodwill towards Hoffenheim to its peak. Ollie, this young man who was about to turn 18, conquered opponents with goals and assists on the field. Off the field, his immense commercial value was being realized at an unprecedented speed, making him Hoffenheim Football Club's undisputed cash cow.
The club's top management looked at the soaring jersey sales data and cooperation intentions from the world market in the backend, their hearts filled with sweet troubles. Hoffenheim's top management knew better than anyone that this cash cow was destined not to be rooted in Sinsheim for long. Ollie, this teenager from Birmingham, in the eyes of Hoffenheim's top management, his value had long surpassed goals on the field.
He was the team's sharpest attacking weapon and the core of the tactical system. He was also a crucial figure for the club in expanding its territory globally, especially in the infinitely promising Chinese market. Ollie's name and his No. 17 jersey had become one of Hoffenheim Football Club's most valuable assets in its history. However, as the season drew to a close.
With the Champions League entering a white-hot stage, another unavoidable topic became increasingly heavy. That was the transfer issue.
"Who will claim the title of the youngest ever Bundesliga and Champions League dual top scorer?"
"17-year-old prodigy Ollie, igniting a European giant bidding war in the summer transfer window!"
"Hoffenheim Chairman: We want to keep Ollie, but reality is cruel..."
Similar headlines appeared almost daily on the front pages of major sports media, many of which were baseless speculations by the media. Ollie's name was linked with Real Madrid, Barça, Manchester City, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich... Almost every European top club imaginable was connected to him. Reporters, like sharks smelling blood, flocked to Germany from all over Europe, and even from distant Asia and America. They blocked the training ground entrance, staked out near the players' apartments, trying to dig out any possible clue about Ollie's future from any crack.
"Ollie, can you talk about your plans for the future?"
"There are reports that Real Madrid has already contacted your father, is that true?"
"Nagelsmann might go to Bayern next season, will you follow him?"
"Has Professor Wenger contacted you privately? Is Arsenal your first choice?"
...
Every time training ended, when players successively walked out of the base gate, Ollie's appearance would cause a commotion. Long and short lenses instantly focused, and countless questions shot out like dense bullets. The flashes were so blinding one couldn't open their eyes, and the noisy sounds almost drowned one out.
Ollie himself didn't like to interact with reporters too much, and he especially disliked the feeling of being surrounded by spotlights and microphones, with his privacy infinitely scrutinized. Especially at this sensitive time of the season's sprint and rampant transfer rumors, he just wanted to focus on the current matches and didn't want to be disturbed by these off-field noises. He knew that every word of his answer could be infinitely magnified, interpreted, or even distorted by the media, causing an even greater stir.
Head coach Nagelsmann saw all this. He understood his beloved protégé's personality and pressure. After seeing Ollie being surrounded by reporters again, his brow furrowed, unable to move, Nagelsmann made a decision. In the locker room, Nagelsmann clapped his hands, attracting everyone's attention.
"Listen, lads," his gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Ollie,
"I know it's lively outside right now. But what's our core mission? It's to win! It's the championship! Ollie needs absolute focus now, not to be drained by those microphones and cameras."
He turned to a few tall, steady defenders: "Vogt, Maguire, Hübner, starting today, after training, your task is to 'escort' Ollie away. The three of you form a human wall, sandwiching him in the middle, with only one goal: to get him onto the team bus as quickly as possible. Don't answer any questions, don't stop, understand?"
Vogt grinned: "Don't worry, boss, mission accomplished!"
Maguire nodded vigorously, his tall frame like a small mountain. "No problem, coach, leave it to us."
Hübner also nodded steadily in agreement. This simple yet extremely effective "human wall escort tactic" was immediately implemented. The next day after training, when Ollie's figure appeared at the base entrance, and reporters swarmed him as usual, Vogt, Maguire, and Hübner, like three iron towers, instantly surrounded him from both sides and the rear. Vogt and Maguire cleared the way in front, using their broad shoulders and steady strides to forcefully squeeze out a path through the crowd, while Hübner followed closely by Ollie's side, using his body to shield him from reporters trying to get close and microphones reaching out.
"Sorry, no comment!"
"Move aside, please move aside!"
"Ollie is not giving interviews right now!"
The three were expressionless, their voices loud and firm, forming a double barrier of physical presence and sound. Sandwiched in the middle, Ollie only needed to lower his head, quicken his pace, and follow the path opened by his teammates. Flashes frantically flickered on both sides, and questions rained down on his escorting teammates, but they were all blocked by this moving human wall.
The short distance of a few dozen meters, from chaos to order, and then to Ollie successfully slipping into the waiting car and driving away, took less than two minutes. This method was simple, direct, and effective. It maximally protected Ollie's privacy, freeing him from unnecessary harassment, allowing him to concentrate his valuable energy on training and matches. Nagelsmann stood by his office window, watching the brief but intense "escort operation" downstairs successfully completed, and Ollie's car smoothly departing, a subtle sense of relief on his face.
This was more powerful than any verbal comfort. However, the reporters outside were not giving up. They were like a group of hungry men blocked from a feast, becoming increasingly anxious. The less Ollie appeared, the more silent he was, the more outrageous the speculations and rumors about him became. They then shifted their focus more intensely onto Nagelsmann, the only one willing to face the media and the team's core.
Thus, every pre-match or post-match press conference became Nagelsmann's solo battlefield. Under the flashes, Nagelsmann sat there, his eyes calm, even a little tired. Reporters' questions bombarded him like a barrage, always revolving around Ollie's future.
"Mr. Nagelsmann, will Ollie still be a Hoffenheim player next season?"
"There are confirmed reports that Arsenal has made an offer, are you aware of it?"
"How do you view Bayern's interest in Ollie? Will this affect your relationship with him?"
"How important is Ollie in your future plans?"...
Nagelsmann displayed extraordinary patience and skill. He skillfully used diplomatic language and smokescreens, cleverly guiding the conversation back to the match itself: "What we are focused on now is the next match, the League standings, and advancing in the Champions League. Ollie is a member of Hoffenheim, and his current task is to help the team win every game. As for the future, that's something to discuss after the season ends. It's too early and meaningless to talk about it now."
He sometimes showed impatience with reporters' repeated questioning: "You've asked the same question many times. My answer won't change. Please focus on the game, not on creating some baseless news."
He would occasionally express genuine admiration when talking about Ollie's performance: "His adaptability is astonishing, and he has shown top-level football IQ and vision in the midfield. He is a phenomenal player, no doubt about it. But how to plan his career is something he and his family need to consider carefully. Please respect him."
Nagelsmann was like a solid shield, single-handedly enduring all the bombardment about Ollie's future, striving to create a relatively peaceful space for his beloved protégé in the eye of the tumultuous transfer storm. Nagelsmann, in his own way, silently guarded Hoffenheim, the ship that was steadily advancing in the League and creating miracles in the Champions League, as well as his beloved protégé on board who only wanted to focus on the next match.
Chairman Hopp sat in his office watching Nagelsmann dealing with reporters on TV, his heart a mix of emotions. He knew Nagelsmann's thoughtfulness and sacrifice, but he also clearly felt that the human wall and Nagelsmann's sole support were, after all, only temporary expedients. The storm was far from over.
...
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