My Girlfriend Wants Victory

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**August 10, 2014.**

A match between FA Cup winners Arsenal and Premier League unbeaten champions Manchester United is set to take place at Wembley Stadium.

Though the Community Shield is an eventful, festive match…

[Arsenal’s Arsène Wenger: “If Manchester United keeps signing famous players for steep prices without clear wage standards, they’ll eventually go bankrupt.”]

[Manchester United’s Alex Ferguson: “Manchester United is not a poor club.”]

As the first match of the season, both managers displayed their determination through verbal sparring.

“Glory Glory Man United!”

“Good old Arsenal!”

Thanks to this, the atmosphere in Wembley Stadium heated up even before the game started.

“Go Reds!! Let’s show those poor folks from London what’s what!”

“Let’s smash those Manchester idiots into pieces!!”

The crowd packed into Wembley emitted an energy that transformed the players’ expressions from full of laughter to serious in an instant.

“….”

Among them, the most striking were the gazes of the promising young players.

It was as if they just returned from some hellish training on a deserted island, with Januzaj and Danny Welbeck looking ready to tear Arsenal apart.

Marcus Rashford, who had just moved up from the youth team to the first team, maintained a fierce intensity in his eyes as if he could not afford to lose.

“Hey kids, relax your eyes.”

Well. The result ended with the elderly Brit Rio Ferdinand keeping everyone in line.

Still, it was a scene that perfectly captured the current atmosphere of Manchester United.

I didn’t know what the locker room vibe was like during that time in the original timeline, but…

I was sure the Manchester United of the altered history would be much better.

‘Oh, that tsundere.’

By the way, Ferdinand’s comment earlier might have come off as overly cocky, but it was more of a close advice to relax given the excessive tension he exuded.

Well, anyway.

Today, Arsenal, our opponents, lost Khedira to Manchester United due to wage issues.

For various reasons, they sent Cesc Fàbregas to Chelsea.

However, they reinforced their squad by acquiring Mesut Özil last summer and Juan Mata during the winter transfer window, so they should not be underestimated.

Unlike the future where, after Wenger’s retirement, they fell into a dark period waiting for Arteta to resurrect the dead.

Under Wenger’s current leadership, they were undoubtedly clear contenders for the title, causing the players to drop their smiles and listen seriously to Alex Ferguson’s directives.

“Jinho! Let’s smash those %^*$*(@* Arsenal guys in this match!”

Hmm. That accent is pretty thick.

I nodded in understanding to Ferguson’s overly enthusiastic tactical instructions.

“I’ll have to ask again when his excitement calms down…”

As Alex Ferguson stepped back after giving his tactical orders…

“SIUUUU─!”

Cristiano Ronaldo, wearing the captain’s armband in place of Nemanja Vidić who transferred to Inter, stood up and began an inspirational speech.

At that, the gazes of my teammates naturally turned toward me.

They wanted me to interpret Ronaldo’s words.

By the way, I joined the captaincy this season, so I interpreted Ronaldo’s remarks right away.

Although as the fifth captain, I likely wouldn’t get to wear the armband.

Still, a captaincy is a captaincy, after all.

“Woohooo─!”

As I volunteered to translate Ronaldo’s motivational speech…

Skeptical stares were thrown my way by my teammates.

No, I’m serious, he really said that!

***

With the referee’s whistle, the Community Shield match between Arsenal and Manchester United began.

Manchester United lined up with a 4-4-2 formation, just like last season.

Due to the World Cup injury preventing Robin van Persie from participating in the early matches of the season, Danny Welbeck started this game.

Contrary to media expectations that Sadio Mané would start…

Alex Ferguson felt it would be too much pressure on the player to make his debut in a one-off match like the Community Shield and decided to let the rookie Sadio Mané debut in the 70th minute.

[Michael Carrick is appearing as a center-back. Carrick often played center-back when Manchester United’s defense crumbled due to injuries or various issues, but it’s the first time I’ve seen him start as a center-back when all center-back resources are healthy.]

[Yes. It seems like Alex Ferguson is hiding a trump card! I wonder what kind of card he has hidden! At that moment, Sami Khedira puts heavy pressure on Mesut Özil!]

Manchester United surprisingly implemented a tactical variation by using Michael Carrick as a center-back.

[Two players who held the World Cup trophy together in the 2014 Brazil World Cup in the same German national team jersey are fiercely competing today.]

With his immense running ability and high football IQ, Sami Khedira played as a defensive midfielder, trapping Özil and winning the ball.

[Khedira to Michael Carrick! And Michael Carrick immediately sends a long pass forward!]

Replacing Khedira, who had somewhat clumsy footwork, Carrick launched a long pass from the back.

[The ball goes to Ronaldo! Straight to Son Jinho in the center! Son Jinho! He sees the penetrating Danny Welbeck!]

Though Virgil van Dijk is also a solid center-back with good ball control, he couldn’t compare to Michael Carrick.

[Oh! Danny Welbeck’s shot goes awry again!!]

Ferguson’s plan started to match as Manchester United began to dominate the game.

[Manchester United brings out a truly horrendous combination. With Darren Fletcher, İlkay Gündoğan, Sami Khedira, and South Korea’s pride Son Jinho’s overwhelming activity, Arsenal is starting to get crushed in the midfield battle!]

***

Sometimes during a match, there are those days.

Days when the opponent’s goalkeeper is possessed by some black spider demon, saving every shot.

Or games where balls that would normally go in hit the crossbar and can’t score.

The match between Manchester United and Arsenal clearly fell into the latter category.

Despite Manchester United completely dominating the match with the players’ individual skills and Alex Ferguson’s tactics…

Oddly enough, there hadn’t been a decisive shot to break through Arsenal’s goal.

And that remained true at present.

Bang! Clang!

“Puta Madre!”

Cristiano Ronaldo’s sudden long-range shot struck the crossbar twice and rebounded.

“Clear it quickly!”

I dashed for the second ball.

Bang─!

“Ow!”

But Arsenal’s goalkeeper Szczęsny cleared the ball just inches before it reached me, signifying the end of the first half of the Community Shield between United and Arsenal.

***

As the first half ended and halftime began…

As soon as Alex Ferguson entered the locker room, he firmly admonished the players.

The souls of Khedira and İlkay Gündoğan, who were experiencing the hairdryer treatment for the first time, seemed to leave their bodies in real-time.

“Get your act together, you are the pride of the German nation!”

I approached to catch the souls of my German friends.

Like a mustache from someone who ended his life with a gun after failing in art school.

When I gently touched the pride of the German nation, something resonated in their DNA, and they started to respond.

Having successfully captured the souls of my German friends…

“…My father came from Tunisia.”

“…I’m of Turkish descent?”

Ignoring their muttering, I turned my focus back to Alex Ferguson.

At the moment I was caring for my German friends.

Alex Ferguson commanded Ronaldo to be more aggressive in the second half.

“Si…”

At the moment Cristiano Ronaldo was about to shout “woo” in response to Ferguson’s directive…

Ferguson’s fierce gaze landed on Ronaldo.

“…Sir! I will do my best!”

Facing the intimidating red-faced Alex Ferguson, Cristiano Ronaldo performed a perfect salute, maintaining a precise angle.

I watched that scene and couldn’t help but be impressed.

Wow. This guy Cristiano has some serious survival instinct.

***

The second half would unfold fiercely, unlike the first.

Gradually, Arsenal began to seize the initiative from Manchester United and launched an offensive.

Mesut Özil, shaking off Sami Khedira momentarily, quickly passed to Juan Mata on the right wing.

After receiving the ball, Juan Mata attempted a low, fast cross aimed at Olivier Giroud who was penetrating the penalty box.

However, Mata’s cross was blocked by Virgil van Dijk.

Though Arsenal’s attack did not register a goal…

Ferguson, feeling the danger of the momentum shifting toward Arsenal, decided to bring Sadio Mané onto the pitch for a change of atmosphere.

‘Wait, is that really the Mané I know? What’s wrong with him…’

But Sadio Mané continually showed he couldn’t adapt to the pace of the Premier League, disrupting the flow of the match.

As a result, Manchester United’s attacks began to naturally shift towards the left flank where Ronaldo was.

Then, in the 32nd minute of the second half…

At the moment Manchester United’s straightforward attack pattern had been losing all momentum…

Sadio Mané successfully intercepted an Arsenal pass from the right side.

Mané showcased his best form since being substituted, quickly attempting a cross.

A fierce struggle occurred in the penalty box between Ronaldo and Koscielny for the header.

I kept moving into the penalty box, ready to seize any second-ball opportunities.

And the exact moment I stepped into the penalty box…

An intense connection occurred between Cristiano Ronaldo and me.

“Son Jinho, I’ll drop it for you, shoot!”

Maybe it’s because I’ve been interpreting SIU every time, reading Ronaldo’s mind.

Even the protagonist in that pocket monster show grows stronger through their trademark electric mouse bond.

And whether it was some bond or mere coincidence, Cristiano Ronaldo indeed dropped the ball where I was running.

I lunged in and attempted a volley shot at the ball.

As the shot connected perfectly on my instep, passing through Arsenal defenders and their goalkeeper, it cut the net.

“Woohoo─!”

“SIUUUUUUUUUUU─!”

I felt a thrilling sensation as my hair stood on end.