He was the hero of Tuesday’s Champions League: Sebastien Thill of Sheriff Tiraspol, who sensationally scored his team from the Republic of Moldova to a 2-1 victory at Real Madrid – and is actually on the road in Niederkorn.
“I got over 300 messages. It’s a great feeling. I’ve watched the goal over a hundred times and I’m still happy,” the Luxembourger told ZDF’s “Sportstudio” on Wednesday evening.
Luxemburger praises conditions at Sheriff
Meanwhile, Thill and his teammates were not yet able to celebrate the sensational win at the Bernabeu Stadium. “We flew back immediately after the game and therefore couldn’t really celebrate. But today we were able to enjoy the day a bit more. Tomorrow, however, we will be preparing for the league again,” said the 27-year-old, who is only on loan to Tiraspol from Luxembourg club Progres Niederkorn for the 2021/22 season;
The midfielder, meanwhile, put his reputation as a glaring outsider and the smallest participant in the competition into a bit of perspective, highlighting the excellent conditions that prevailed at Sheriff in Tiraspol. “We have three arenas – an indoor arena and two stadiums – plus another ten pitches,” explained Thill. And indeed, from a bird’s eye view, the entire site looks massive.
Thill and the dream of Champions League
Thill not only caught the eye in Madrid on Tuesday night with his dream goal via drop-kick to perhaps the biggest surprise in Champions League history, but also with a special tattoo on his left calf showing himself dreaming of the top flight.
“I got the tattoo two months ago. Because the Champions League has always been my goal. I watched it as a little kid and often fought with my father to be allowed to watch at all because I had to go to school the next day. I think it’s the dream of many people to play in the Champions League one day,” says Thill.