Hoffenheim will compete in a European competition for the first time after finishing fourth in the league. Hoffenheim were saved last season by Julian Nagelsmann who was just 28 when he took over but few would have thought he could guide his team to a top four finish just over a year later. Furthermore, Nagelsmann and his Hoffenheim side very much deserved their eventual finishing position after playing some excellent football throughout the season. Hoffenheim had the longest unbeaten run of any side in a top European league reaching late January before being beaten by Leipzig. At home, Hoffenheim went unbeaten throughout the entire length of the season. Nagelsmann was able to beat Bayern at home and draw in Munich amongst many excellent individual performances. The only slight criticism of Hoffenheim's performances would be the number of draws: 14 in total which ultimately cost them third place and a guaranteed spot in the group stage of the Champions League.
One of the most impressive aspects of Hoffenheim’s season has been the relatively slim budget that Nagelsmann has been able to operate on. This season they were the only side in the eventual top four to have a transfer plus. Some of the more impressive players this season have been those who other sides in the league have rejected. Former HSV player Kerim Demirbay’s 6 goals and 8 assists is the highest attacking output of any player in the squad. Benjamin Hübner and Kevin Vogt formed two thirds of a very solid back three and those players cost a combined total of €5.5 million. At the heart of the second best defence in the league alongside Hübner and Vogt was Niklas Süle who is one of two players leaving the club this season to join Bayern. The other being Sebastian Rudy who frequently wore the captain’s armband and created 9 goals, was the club’s best player this term. Both he and Süle will be sorely missed and who the club replaces them will be a major issue over the summer. Overall how Nagelsmann goes about facing up to the challenges the club will face with European football and the demands on the squad will be a fascinating aspect of next season.
