My Girlfriend Wants Victory

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That evening when the naturalization negotiations with the German Football Association (DFB) were underway.

I explained to my family the proposal for naturalization I had received from the DFB, the circumstances of the negotiations, and the current situation of the Korean Football Association.

– Ho-woo: So, I’ve received a naturalization proposal from Germany….

Since I also needed to inform my father-in-law back in Korea and Chairman Hwang Geum-soon, I used the family group chat.

As soon as I finished my lengthy explanation, responses from my family flooded in.

– Mother-in-law: You’ve worked hard, my son-in-law ㅠㅠ

– Father-in-law: Well, those German folks have a pride as high as their noses.

– Gyeouri: Huh? Dad, that’s racist!

– Father-in-law: Jinho, think carefully. No matter what happens, we’ll support you.

– Ho-woo: Thank you, Father-in-law.

– Mother-in-law: Sigh, he just loves to show off alone, doesn’t he?

– Gyeouri: …Why is everyone ignoring me?

– Mother-in-law: Jinho, if things get tough, your father can also wrap up his business and come over to Germany, so don’t worry too much and do what you want.

– Ho-woo: Thank you always, Mother-in-law.

My family assured me they would support whatever decision I made.

– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: What about me then?

– Mother-in-law: Do whatever you like! And why is my brother-in-law here in our family chat?

– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: Well, because I’m family with my nephew-in-law.

– Mother-in-law: We’ve never considered a neutral fan as family though, have we?

– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: Arsenal is a great team that has won undefeated titles! They are not a no-trophy team!

– Gyeouri: LOL! Why are Arsenal and Chelsea fighting when neither has a Champions Trophy? They should get along! LOL!

– Mother-in-law: Seriously, until when are you going to keep bringing up the undefeated title?

– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: Supporting a bottom-tier team!

– Gyeouri: …Ugh, you’re not even replying to this. What’s going on? Mom! Dad! Uncle! Son Jinho! Did I get blocked? Hello???

As always, it ended in a family quarrel, but I had gotten somewhat used to it by now, so I quietly turned off my smartphone screen.

“What should I do…”

Lying on my bed and staring at the ceiling, I continued to ponder.

“Son Jinho!”

The door swung open and Han Gyeouri burst in.

“Did you block me?”

“Huh? No?”

“Then why aren’t you replying!”

“Because your reactions are funny?”

Gyeouri, who had been whining about nobody replying to her messages, must have noticed my dark expression.

Suddenly, she became serious, grabbed my head, and pulled me in for a hug.

“Jinho, like Mom and Dad said, decide based on how you feel. No matter what happens, we will always support you.”

The soft touch against my face and her warmth made my complicated thoughts about naturalization clear up instantly.

‘Honestly, my wish was just to be with Gyeouri.’

The national team issue, I figured it would work out somehow.

If it truly feels wrong, I can just declare retirement.

Winning an Olympic gold medal is worth it, right?

I quickly organized my complicated thoughts while feeling the sensation on my head.

‘Ah. I need to tell Gi-hyun Choi too.’

If I were to naturalize, he would be the one most affected, so he definitely needed to know that I had received a naturalization proposal from Germany.

*

The next day, Son Jinho sent a message to Choi Gi-hyun.

It was a message crafted referencing a text that Cristiano Ronaldo had supposedly sent to Antonio Cassano in the far future.

– Ho-woo: As a member of the Football Association, Choi Gi-hyun, you must respect me. I am the youngest record holder in Bundesliga appearances and the youngest goalscorer and have received a naturalization proposal from Germany. If you don’t respect me, I will naturalize in Germany… (Read more)

– Gi-hyun Choi: ….

Gi-hyun, despite having read the message from Son Jinho, took a long while to respond.

– Gi-hyun Choi: The man who discovered the first national team player in Germany? It’s me!!

He finally replied after a moment, but the message was far from what Jinho had anticipated.

*

Throwing my worries for the future temporarily aside, the Bundesliga Round 2 began.

Dortmund set off on their away game against Hoffenheim.

Due to Ilkay Gündoğan still not adapting to his position, Sven Bender started the match as a starter.

Me? Naturally.

“Jinho! Give it your all today!”

I was a regular.

Many believed that I would be competing for the starting position with Ilkay Gündoğan in the absence of Nuri Sahin.

However, contrary to their thoughts, I was a confirmed starter.

Well… it’s still the start of the season, so more time will tell.

My commuting mate Jürgen Klopp mentioned while preparing the lineup that he puts my name on the list first.

‘It might be just lip service.’

But when I saw the confidence in his eyes, it didn’t seem like simple lip service.

Beep──!

Anyway, the game began at Hoffenheim’s home ground, the Rhein-Neckar Arena, which can hold 30,000 spectators.

*

In the match between Dortmund and Hoffenheim, expectations were that the defending champions Dortmund would easily win; however, the early game atmosphere was led by Hoffenheim.

Most Bundesliga teams tend to show strong performances at home.

Thanks to favorable referee decisions and the familiar environment for the home team, but I think the passionate cheering from the fans brings out the players’ abilities to their limits.

After being pushed back by the awakened Hoffenheim players powered by the fans’ support in the 9th minute of the first half,

Hoffenheim’s midfielder Srdjan Lakić struck a long-range shot that shook Dortmund’s net.

It was a stunning shot that flew to an unresponsive corner, making Dortmund’s goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller merely stare blankly at the swaying net.

Srdjan Lakić, who scored, ran towards the corner flag to celebrate.

“Wooooooaaaaaa──!!”

The Hoffenheim crowd filled the stadium with their cheers, causing the Rhein-Neckar Arena to shake.

*

[The atmosphere of the stadium is shifting towards Hoffenheim.]

After Hoffenheim’s opening goal, the stadium’s atmosphere completely turned in their favor.

[Yes, it seems like it will be a tough game for Dortmund.]

While the Korean commentators expressed their concerns about this reality,

[Son Jinho successfully snatches the ball from Roberto Firmino! Dortmund’s counterattack follows!]

Son Jinho managed to take the ball away from Roberto Firmino, who was attempting a reckless breakthrough.

Jumping up from his seat, Son Jinho pretended to pass to Robert Lewandowski charging forward.

Evading Hoffenheim’s midfielders, he began dribbling.

As he spotted the Hoffenheim goal, he swung his right foot for a thunderous long-range shot.

[It’s in!! Son Jinho scores his third league goal!!]

Scoring similarly to the moment he conceded to Srdjan Lakić, Son Jinho raced to the corner flag to celebrate.

“Hoouuuuu──!!”

The atmosphere of the Rhein-Neckar Arena, which was electrified by Hoffenheim’s goal, turned ice-cold in an instant.

*

Dortmund successfully took the lead with a late goal from Robert Lewandowski just before half-time.

And in the second half that followed,

Jürgen Klopp substituted Mario Götze, who appeared out of shape.

The newly introduced Ivan Perišić significantly raised the team’s energy with incredible activity.

Dortmund managed to maintain their lead by a single goal.

In the dying moments of the game, facing a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, Perišić shot into the air, glancing at Son Jinho, who had given him the killer pass.

“Aww! Nice job!”

Son Jinho approached Ivan Perišić with a bright smile and encouraged him.

“…My name is Ivan, though?”

“It’s a nickname.”

The way Son Jinho said “nickname” without changing his expression meant that from that day on, Perišić’s nickname became “Aww.”

And it didn’t take long for Perišić to realize that if he failed to score, he would become “Aww.”

*

[Dortmund secures a 2-1 victory away at Hoffenheim.]

[Son Jinho scores his third league goal! Birth of an unprecedented talent?]

Dortmund, after Hoffenheim, also achieved a clean victory against Nürnberg in Round 3.

[Dortmund wins at home after the away victory at Hoffenheim! They continue their three-match winning streak!]

[Dortmund defeats Nürnberg with a score of 3-0.]

[Son Jinho racks up two assists with fantastic killer passes!]

[Klopp mentions Son Jinho: ‘He possesses talents greater than any player I’ve trained so far.’]

[Champions League draw, defending Bundesliga champions Dortmund receives 4th seed? Preparation for an epic ‘Group of Death’!]

*

August 25th.

The day the Champions League draw was being broadcast from Monaco.

“Klopp-o! Come on in!”

“Jinho! Thanks for the invite!”

Finally, I invited Jürgen Klopp, who had been postponing, to a meal.

Mother-in-law had prepared a table full of Korean dishes, glistening with beads of sweat from her hard work.

“Klopp-o, my girlfriend dreams of being a coach. Do you think she needs any special talents to become one?”

At the ensuing meal, I stepped in to ask Klopp on behalf of Han Gyeouri, who was feeling shy, about what it takes to become a coach.

“Understanding people is the most important thing, as football is played by humans.”

Klopp replied kindly with a smile.

“More than tactics?”

“Of course! Tactics are thought out in your head, but it’s the players who execute them.”

As the atmosphere relaxed regarding Gyeouri and Klopp, time passed by pleasantly.

When the Champions League draw broadcast started, we focused on the screen.

Dortmund received a 4th seed, but as the top seed is determined by scoring based on five years of European activity, Dortmund, which went through a bankruptcy crisis, naturally had less European activity.

Only after 2015 are the seeds decided not by club ranking, but by UEFA’s league ranking.

As much as I think about it, it seems absolutely right.

Is there seriously a Bundesliga champion with a 4th seed?

It’s a disaster for us but also a disaster for the teams facing us.

I bet rival teams are wishing they dropped into our group right about now.

“Please, let Dortumund be in the group with Arsenal and not Chelsea!”

As my mother-in-law’s heartfelt wish echoed, Dortmund headed to Group F alongside Arsenal.

Mother-in-law completely forgot that Dortmund’s coach, Jürgen Klopp, was a guest.

“Hoouuuuu──!”

She raised her arms and cheered.