My Girlfriend Wants Victory

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Luis Enrique entered the locker room, pondering the dinner menu.

“Did everyone enjoy the match?”

He began motivating the players with heartfelt sincerity.

‘Lucky Gi-hyun Choi’ Luis Enrique sent firm trust toward the players he coached.

“Si!”

The players looked back at Luis Enrique with trusting eyes.

“Alright, let’s play the second half like the first half!”

In the future, Luis Enrique would be affectionately nicknamed “Click Soccer,” but in the locker room, he created a comfortable atmosphere that allowed each player to showcase their talents, successfully implementing tactics that maximized the existing resources’ abilities.

Lucho’s philosophy was simple.

To abandon the authority of a coach and treat players as individuals.

And through that, to bring out every bit of potential the players possessed.

He believed that was the true virtue of a great leader.

Because football is played by people, not numbers or machines.

‘Hmm. What wine should I choose?’

As Luis Enrique sat down contemplating the wine to accompany dinner,

Barcelona’s captain Carles Puyol, who announced his retirement at the end of this season, gathered the players around.

“Leo! Don’t you have something to say to us?”

He passed the speaking rights to Messi, the symbol of FC Barcelona who would one day become captain.

“I hope that the space created by Neymar and me spreading wide will be more actively targeted by Andrés and Xavi.”

Messi calmly explained his plans and aspirations, albeit with a burdened expression.

‘Hmm. As expected of Messi. He has it all planned out.’

Luis Enrique nodded while watching him, but when the players looked at him, he snapped back to reality and began his speech.

“Everyone, close your eyes and picture this. We are at Camp Nou, and nearly 100,000 fans are hoping for our victory.”

As Luis Enrique delivered a passionate speech, he suddenly broke into a bright smile and added:

“But don’t feel pressured; the responsibility lies with me. What could happen? I could get fired? You just have to play the way you want! Let’s enjoy football!”

The morale-boosting effect of supporter Luis Enrique was tremendous.

“Más que un club! (More than a club!)”

“Vamos─!!”

The Barcelona players, charged with excitement, let out cheers that echoed through the locker room.

***

As soon as he entered the locker room, Alex Ferguson first consoled Johnny Evans, who looked defeated.

“Johnny, are you scared?”

“…I’m sorry, boss.”

“To be honest, I’m scared too. I fear that one wrong judgment from me could lead our team to defeat. But be afraid, yet don’t blame yourself; that way, you can become a good player.”

Then he began to gently tease Cristiano Ronaldo and Robin van Persie’s egos.

“Chris, Robin, I’ve believed you two have been the best so far, but I think I need to change my mind. It seems that Messi is the best.”

“SIUUUUUUUU─!”

“…Jinho translate.”

“He says that cannot be true. He will prove why he is the best in the second half.”

“SIU.”

“He says the interpretation was perfect.”

If there’s one thing I’ve realized since transferring to Manchester United, it’s that Alex Ferguson masterfully uses both the carrot and the stick.

He gives carrots to players who need them, and he swings the stick mercilessly at players who need that.

Of course, unlike those two gems, I’m the player who needs a carrot.

With my experience, there’s no way I’d be scraped by such a whip.

Realizing that quickly, Alex Ferguson had only handed me carrots so far.

Our relationship could be summarized as “Jim Jop Ferguson, the waiting hand of Thomas.”

“Jinho!”

‘Finally, my turn has come.’

I looked at Alex Ferguson with eager anticipation for what carrot he might present today.

“Are you scared of Messi?”

Out of nowhere, a whip came flying at me.

‘Oh. That stings a bit.’

But the surprising thing is that I actually got stung by that.

“NO!”

“Are you a coward?”

“NO!!!!”

“Then fight back! Make those Barcelona bastards stop underestimating you!”

“Yes Sir!!”

Alex Ferguson, who distributed both the carrot and the stick evenly among the players,

It seemed he felt something was lacking. After gathering himself, he continued.

“Perhaps this season might be my last season.”

The sudden announcement of Alex Ferguson’s retirement left the players in the locker room in shock.

“I want to lift the Big Ear trophy with you, the last kids of my time before retiring.”

Tears welled up in the eyes of some friends at Ferguson’s words.

‘No, he’s not going to retire out of the blue, is he?’

However, right now, the most shocked person was none other than me.

Because my plan of lifting the Champions League trophy with Ferguson next season was collapsing.

Without even a chance to calm my jumbled feelings, halftime ended.

Players began to leave one by one from the visiting team locker room.

“Jinho.”

As I was about to step out of the locker room for the last time, Alex Ferguson caught my arm.

“Do you think this was enough to motivate the players?”

“Uh? So retirement…?”

And in that private conversation with Alex Ferguson, I sighed in relief.

“Why pass it on to the next coach after going through hell to rebuild? I want to hand it over after at least winning the treble.”

Well, if the result of endlessly rebuilding while going through hell is undefeated victories, then it certainly is too precious to just give away.

Having finished the conversation with Ferguson, I left the locker room, calming my momentarily uneasy heart.

***

[The current aggregate score is 6-6, and if the match ends like this, FC Barcelona will advance to the Champions League semifinals due to the away goals rule! The second half kicks off with Manchester United’s kickoff!]

[Oh! Manchester United is aggressively pushing forward right from the start!]

[It seems the players have been properly tormented by Coach Ferguson. They’re showing movements on a different level than the first half.]

[That’s right. By the way, there were five goals scored in the first half, so let’s hope there are as many in the second half as well.]

[Oh! Son Jinho with a threatening long-range shot! It just barely goes over the crossbar!]

[At that moment, Son Jinho seems to be complaining about something to the referee?]

[It seems like he’s appealing that it hit Busquets’ foot.]

[From this angle, it’s hard to see… Ah! Son Jinho was right! It deflected off Busquets’ foot and went out.]

[Wow. It was barely visible even on the video!]

[Yes. Doesn’t that mean Son Jinho has confidence in his kick?]

[Ah… just as I mentioned, Park Jisong is clutching his leg and collapsing on the ground. Park Jisong, who had been struggling to stop Messi since the early minutes of the first half, seems to have reached his limit here.]

***

Ten minutes into the second half.

Jisong-hyung had a muscle cramp in his leg, and Coach Ferguson immediately prepared the substitution card.

As Jisong-hyung left the field with the help of the team doctor, applause erupted from the Manchester United stands for him, who had shown decent performance against Lionel Messi.

It likely also served as a gesture of gratitude for the past ten years of dedication.

With Jisong-hyung gone, Ryan Giggs, who declared retirement at the end of this season while playing as a coach on the field, was substituted in for Park Jisong.

With five veteran players either retiring or announcing their transfers along with this season, it feels strangely like the glorious era of Manchester United is coming to an end.

‘…Wait a minute, thinking about it, wasn’t Jisong-hyung brought in as Ryan Giggs’ successor?’

Isn’t it peculiar that the player who joined as a successor retires around the same time? Apart from his chaotic personal life, he is definitely someone to learn about self-management techniques from.

In any case, presently, Giggs, who has been with Alex Ferguson longer than anyone else, began to ignite his passion more than anyone.

***

Unlike the explosive first half, which saw five goals from the start,

The second half was strangely devoid of goals.

[David De Gea’s super-duper-save!! He saves Manchester United from a crisis!]

[Oh! Is that Valdés? He barely manages to deflect Ronaldo’s shot!]

Both teams created several critical chances, but neither could surpass the suddenly Yashin-possessed goalkeepers in the second half.

[Yes. Given how many incredible saves have been made, one critical mistake could easily determine the outcome.]

The clock continued to move swiftly.

By the 31st minute of the second half,

The players began to spread out.

[It’s a substitution by Coach Luis Enrique. Carles Puyol will come in for Andrés Iniesta.]

[Yes, this choice seems to imply a defensive intent, right?]

Carles Puyol enters the field in place of the exhausted Iniesta.

And not long after,

[Ah, one of the Manchester United players has collapsed on the field!]

Johnny Evans, who had been running madly to make up for the mistakes of the first half, complained of discomfort in his calf and was substituted out.

Coming in for Evans was Chris Smalling, who received focused teaching from Son Jinho.

Could it be the echoing words “Fergie’s Kids” that Ferguson mentioned?

Substituted Chris Smalling played a decisive role in turning the match’s tide.

He successfully intercepted Lionel Messi’s pass aimed at Luis Suárez with his toes.

The pass from Messi, redirected by Smalling’s foot, flowed to Ryan Giggs.

Securing the ball, Ryan Giggs used his wide vision to coordinate with Son Jinho, shaking off Barcelona’s pressure.

Then Giggs quickly made his way along the touchline.

Though age had slowed him down, the explosive power from his prime was still there, alongside a threatening breakthrough ability.

Instead, utilizing more refined kicking skills, he attempted a left-footed cross.

Ryan Giggs’ cross sailed perfectly over the heads of the Barcelona center-backs.

The one who finished the chance from Giggs’ cross was none other than Robin van Persie, who had shaken off the burden after scoring with Son Jinho’s assist in the first leg.

Swish─!

The well-placed volley successfully found the back of the net guarded by Valdés, and Manchester United started to take the lead again.

***

As Robin van Persie’s shot rippled the net,

Alex Ferguson decided to go all in.

With little time left in regular time,

Ferguson called back Robin van Persie, who had scored the equalizer, and brought in Rio Ferdinand.

Manchester United began to defend fiercely against Barcelona’s attacks.

Before long, regular time ended, with just three minutes added by the assistant referee.

“We’ll keep the Red Flags flying high!”

The Manchester United away fans stood up and began to chant at the top of their lungs.

Barcelona’s threatening attacks continued to unfold.

Referee Jonas Eriksson signaled for a corner kick.

Barcelona’s final attacking scenario.

Barcelona took the extreme step of pulling their goalkeeper out of the goal and sent all players forward.

As players vied for position, a tense moment of confrontation arose.

As the referee attempted to calm the players,

Xavi Hernández, preparing for the corner, exchanged glances with Carles Puyol.

The referee then organized the situation and resumed the match, and the assistant referee moved back outside the touchline.

Xavi Hernández executed the corner kick as promised.

In the midst of intense physical battles, captain Carles Puyol of Barcelona slipped in to successfully head the ball.

“Vamos──!”

Puyol’s header hit the back of Manchester United’s net.

“Ah, damn. I miss Anthony Taylor today.”

With Son Jinho’s lament, the match headed into extra time.