Sinsheim, in early March, was the battleground for a Champions League match. Hoffenheim, holding a significant 3-1 away victory over Porto in the first leg, was now set to play the second leg at home. Even though Hoffenheim had a two-goal lead and three away goals, the experienced Porto was by no means an easy opponent; they stepped onto the pitch with a strong determination to counterattack.
In the locker room before the match, Nagelsmann's expression was serious and focused, as he repeatedly emphasized the importance of maintaining concentration and controlling the tempo.
"Everyone! Forget the score from the first leg and play this match as if it's 0-0! In the second leg, their counterattack will be extremely fierce. We must withstand the initial pressure and constantly look for opportunities to suppress them!" Nagelsmann's gaze swept over every player, briefly lingering on his beloved disciple's face, full of trust.
"Understood, Coach!" they all shouted in unison.
Oliver did not start this match. Nagelsmann hoped to maintain the team's attacking momentum in the second half through Oliver as a late substitute, while also preserving the core players' physical fitness for the upcoming, more congested schedule. The progression of the first half confirmed Nagelsmann's prediction. Porto demonstrated the resilience and skill of a Portuguese powerhouse; their high-pressing and quick passes put considerable pressure on Hoffenheim's defense.
Hoffenheim, on the other hand, focused on defensive counterattacks, and the midfield battle was exceptionally intense. The deadlock was broken towards the end of the first half. Hoffenheim capitalized on a quick counterattack opportunity, with striker Uth successfully winning the ball in the front, driving forward, and then calmly shooting to score!
1-0!
The Rhein-Neckar Arena instantly erupted, the immense roar almost lifting the roof. This goal virtually extinguished Porto's hopes, changing the aggregate score to 4-1.
At halftime, with a leading advantage, the entire Hoffenheim team returned to the locker room with cautious optimism. Shortly after the second half began, Porto's strong offensive momentum had not yet subsided. Their wingers repeatedly attempted to attack Hoffenheim's right flank. Nagelsmann keenly made his first substitution.
He pointed to the bench and shouted loudly:
"Ollie! Warm up!"
A few minutes later, the fourth official standing by the sideline raised the substitution board: Number 9 Ochs out, Number 17 Oliver in at the right-winger position! Nagelsmann helped Oliver adjust his sleeve, and Oliver took a deep breath, stepping onto the familiar battlefield of the pitch. His teammates high-fived Oliver, and the Hoffenheim home fans also cheered for their core player. Oliver's presence immediately created a distracting effect.
Porto's players clearly knew the prowess of this number 17; his dribbling and finishing abilities had already been proven in the Bundesliga and the Champions League. Whenever Oliver received the ball on the right wing, at least two defenders would nervously close in. This, to some extent, alleviated the pressure in the center and also opened up Porto's already somewhat loose midfield and defensive spaces.
In the 72nd minute, Hoffenheim controlled possession in the midfield, slightly to the right. Porto's overall positioning still maintained an attacking stance, leaving the defensive midfield position somewhat exposed. De Jong received a back pass slightly centrally, in front of Oliver. He keenly observed that Porto's players' attention seemed to be briefly drawn to a teammate making a run on the other side. De Jong did not hold onto the ball; he turned and delivered a high-quality diagonal long pass, precisely targeting the gap in Porto's defense, between the center-backs and full-backs!
The pass was incredibly cunning, its trajectory was between the ribs and the junction of the center-back and full-back, and its height was neither too high nor too low, just enough to clear the frantically retreating midfield interception line. More importantly, Oliver had already started his run! He made a diagonal run from the right flank, like a red lightning bolt, getting ahead of the ball to perfectly position himself in the closing gap between the opposing left center-back and left full-back before the pass arrived!
He didn't even stop the ball. Just as the defenders tried to close in, he subtly flicked the incoming ball with the outside of his right foot, delicately chipping it diagonally into the top of the box. This play completely caught Porto's defense off guard. Their defensive focus was on the lines where Oliver might dribble or shoot, or even his conventional actions after receiving the ball. But this miraculous aerial flick with the outside of his foot, though not fast, had an extremely tricky trajectory. It just cleared the pressing defensive midfielder, yet allowed his own teammate to comfortably receive it. Where did this ball land? Right at the top of the penalty area, slightly to the right! At that very moment, a massive figure arrived as if on cue!
Center-back Harry Maguire!
Whenever Hoffenheim had a set piece or the opponent pressed high, Maguire became a nuclear weapon. This time, Porto's positioning after pushing forward had not retreated in time, leaving their backline exposed. As Oliver started his run, Maguire was also observing. When he saw De Jong's pass trajectory and Oliver's unexpected flick, Maguire smelled an opportunity. He took large strides, sprinting at full speed towards that empty landing spot!
Oliver's delicate flick, the small arc the ball traced, perfectly avoided all possible defensive interference, landing precisely in an unmanned zone. Maguire arrived instantly. The Porto player defending him had his balance deceived by Oliver's previous run and flick, and his frantic recovery was already too late. Facing this 'golden opportunity' that seemed to fall from the sky, Maguire even had time to adjust his steps, aim at the goal, and leap high!
His massive 194cm frame possessed absolute dominance in the air; he powerfully whipped his neck! The ball was headed by Maguire's forehead with a very clean and crisp angle, smashing towards the far corner of the goal! Although Porto's goalkeeper was experienced, after witnessing the chaotic play in front of the box and having his vision somewhat obscured by his frantically retreating teammates, his reaction was ultimately half a beat too slow! He lunged sideways, his fingertips barely touching the ball, but he couldn't prevent it from crossing the goal line by mere millimeters and flying into the net!
2-0!!!
Aggregate score 5-1!!! The entire goal sequence was fluid, especially Maguire's header, which was executed with such ease and grace! After scoring, Maguire roared excitedly, slapping the team crest on his chest. He immediately rushed towards the source of the pass, the young Oliver. Amidst the deafening cheers of tens of thousands of fans at the Rhein-Neckar Arena, Maguire's massive frame almost completely enveloped the somewhat slender Oliver.
He vigorously ruffled Oliver's hair, repeatedly shouting: "That was a f***ing beautiful pass, ehn, Oliver! Amazing, mate!" Oliver laughed in his embrace, and the two embraced in joyful celebration.
This scene was full of visual impact: one was a sturdy, mountain-like aircraft carrier, the other a nimble, wind-like speedboat. Yet, at this moment, they were intimately linked by a brilliant goal and a superb assist, becoming Hoffenheim's most dazzling combination on both offense and defense. On the sideline, Nagelsmann's eyes gleamed with undisguised excitement and… surprise! He certainly knew Maguire had heading ability, but this goal came with such ease and grace, even in a fast-moving play rather than a dead ball situation, and the opponent was almost completely unable to defend against it! Maguire's absolute aerial dominance, his overwhelming presence, combined with Oliver's highly observant and excellent assist, opened a new door on Nagelsmann's tactical board.
His brain raced: "Harry… this is a natural battering ram for the box! Not just for set pieces, but it can also be a deadly weapon in counterattacks!… Ollie's vision and footwork are simply tailor-made for him! This is definitely worth exploring further!"
The match ultimately ended 2-0, with Hoffenheim advancing to the Champions League quarterfinals with a 5-1 aggregate score! The Rhein-Neckar Arena became a sea of joy; this was undoubtedly a landmark night. The post-match excitement lasted for two days, but intense training quickly brought the team's attention back to reality.
Successfully reaching the quarterfinals was certainly something to be proud of, but even tougher challenges lay ahead. The German Bundesliga title race with Bayern had also entered a fierce stage, leaving no room for complacency. Nagelsmann clearly took note of the heading power Maguire displayed in the Champions League. In the following days of training, targeted heading drills became the main focus.
On the offensive end, Maguire had clearly become the core. Whether it was corner kicks, free kicks, or Nagelsmann's newly added counter-attack tactical simulations. The emphasis of the practice was always on how to more effectively deliver the ball to Maguire's head, and how Maguire could maximize his aerial advantage under various double-team situations.
During set-piece training, the kickers repeatedly practiced different heights and spins for their passes' landing spots. And Oliver, being a right winger, was also one of the key executors of crosses from the flanks. He diligently practiced various crossing techniques: high arcing balls, fast low balls, and inswingers.
Oliver's passing skills were already quite good. Although to this day, he had not yet replicated a high-quality passing skill. But his usual hard work and extra practice, along with the system store's passing training package, had helped him grow considerably. After a day of high-intensity group confrontation training, the players on the field were all drenched in sweat. Oliver picked up a bottle of mineral water and habitually walked towards Maguire, who had just gotten up from the ground and was resting with his hands on his hips.
"Here, Harry, water."
Oliver handed over the mineral water bottle.
Maguire grinned and took it without hesitation: "Thanks, buddy! Those last few passes you sent my way today were really tricky."
Maguire was referring to a successful cross from the flank in the final stage of training, followed by Maguire's powerful header simulation that broke through the defense. Just as Maguire's large hand took the cold mineral water bottle, and his fingers touched the bottle's body, the system came alive:
[Host Oliver's interaction with player Harry Maguire has reached 100%, unlocking skill: Air Combat Zone, skill matching degree 53%]
[Skill Description: When the skill matching degree reaches 100%, when the Host is in an aerial contest situation, including offensive headers for goal and defensive headers for clearance, it enhances the accuracy of predicting the landing trajectory, significantly enhances core strength burst (specifically improving instantaneous explosive power at the moment of jumping), and greatly improves confrontation stability, enabling the Host to maintain stable aerial posture during intense physical contact and not be easily completely pushed aside.
Effect Range: Primarily acts on the core area where the Host directly jumps to contest.]
53%...
Oliver quickly scanned the system information in his mind; this was the lowest matching degree the system had ever judged since he started replicating so many star players' skills. The reason was self-evident.
Look at Maguire next to him: 194cm tall, weighing nearly 100 kg, as strong as an ox, with core strength and confrontation ability at the level of a top center-back. And himself? 184cm tall, weighing around 72kg; his body type leaned more towards speed and flexibility. The physical differences were huge, and the muscle types and strength foundations were completely at two extremes.
This meant that Maguire's physical hardware foundation, which enabled him to become an "Air Combat Zone" – the fulcrum effect of his immense weight in aerial duels, and his super-strong absolute power in confrontations – was something Oliver could never obtain by simply replicating a skill. The 53% matching degree, the system very "honestly" reflected this reality.
What Oliver could "replicate" was more of Maguire's technical experience and feeling in terms of prediction, core explosiveness, and body control. But the strength itself still required him to hone and train it himself. This was like getting a partial manuscript of insights from a top forging master; although he didn't have the best materials himself, the master's techniques and methods could be learned and referenced.
In the subsequent specialized training for headers, Oliver's focus and dedication reached a new peak. He not only practiced heading actions diligently but also became an active observer and questioner. When Nagelsmann specifically explained the heading tactics designed for Maguire during training, such as how to use Maguire's large physique to form a screen in set-piece attacks, creating space for other players; or how to grasp Maguire's timing for forward runs in counter-attacks, and how the passer should choose the best crossing technique to allow Maguire to exert power...
Oliver was always in the foremost position, listening carefully with ears perked up, his eyes shining with the light of knowledge.
He remained eager to learn: Every time there was group confrontation training involving headers, set-piece drills, or even theoretical lectures, he listened with exceptional seriousness. Oliver would actively observe how Maguire moved and selected his spot in a crowd, how he used his body to block, and how he adjusted his center of gravity and exerted force at the moment of jumping. Once, after the coaching staff arranged a specialized training session for crosses + central Grab the spot, Oliver directly walked up to Nagelsmann:
"Coach, regarding that cross just now, if the breakthrough on the flank attracted more defenders, the space in the penalty area might be larger than a step behind the penalty spot? Harry seems very comfortable turning and contesting headers in that position too."
Oliver pointed at the tactics board and offered his insights.
Nagelsmann looked at Oliver with some surprise, then showed an approving expression:
"Very good, Oliver! You observed very carefully. Harry's height and vision give him a large coverage area, but we cannot rely solely on that one area at the penalty spot. The half space and the back post must also be fully utilized to create mismatches."
Nagelsmann explained in detail to his beloved disciple the differences in Maguire's optimal aerial attack zones under different offensive starting points and defensive formations. Oliver nodded, taking it to heart. He then walked over to Maguire, who was stretching and relaxing.
"Harry, on that last ball, when you held your position and were about to jump, how did you predict the defender would extend his leg first? I felt your center of gravity was very stable."
Maguire looked at his eager young teammate and laughed heartily:
"Buddy, that's center-back experience! Besides watching the opponent's shoulders drop and the tension in their leg muscles, you also have to 'listen' to their breathing rhythm. Of course, the most important thing is the application of strength in those few steps before occupying the position and choosing the timing of the jump; you need to hold him off, but also not get entangled and lose your jumping rhythm..."
Maguire shared his insights without reservation. Their exchanges during training breaks became more frequent. These practical experiences from a top center-back and the coach's tactical analyses nourished Oliver like nutrients.
He even did extra heading practice after team training sessions. It wasn't pointless aerial duels, but rather focused training on route selection during quick movements, grasping jumping timing in small areas, and how to use more reasonable leverage and skillful headers to complete heading passes or shots under confrontation. While learning theoretical knowledge, Oliver was also strengthening related jumping ability and core strength training, not neglecting either theoretical or practical learning.
Nagelsmann saw all of this. The young coach already had a clearer blueprint in his mind. Maguire was indeed a super weapon capable of changing the dynamics of set pieces. And the increasing chemistry between him and Oliver, along with Oliver's precise delivery ability from the flanks, was definitely key to maximizing the weapon's power. He would not only design more heading tactics for Maguire, but perhaps he could also try, at specific times, to let Oliver, nominally a right winger, take on some more flexible roles. After all, a winger who can cross well, possesses broad vision, and is beginning to have a unique understanding and technique for aerial contests, his tactical value would be even more multifaceted.
Oliver and Maguire's chemistry was continuously improving. In the short term, Oliver certainly couldn't become an Air Combat Zone. But becoming a "poacher" and a "precise ball feeder" with a deadly threat in aerial combat was a completely possible goal.
In March, on the European stage, Hoffenheim, this dark horse from a small town, with increasingly clear ambition and an constantly evolving arsenal, continued its charge towards the suffocating Champions League final.
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