My Girlfriend Wants Victory

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That evening after the match against Cologne.

– Gu Jachil: Jinho, let’s grab a meal after the game later.

– Totem Park: Speaking of which, Jinho is coming to London. If you come to London, I’ll treat you to dinner.

– Me: British food, eh… just a bit;;

I received greetings from many people.

Unintentionally, it seems like the tears I shed before the match turned my experience into hot gossip once again.

– Mino Raiola: Khuhuh! Jinho! The jersey sales are going up!

Well, maybe thanks to that, my jersey sales skyrocketed too.

[Son Jinho Jersey Sales Soar to Number One! A Global Superstar Born in South Korea?]

I had already sold a considerable amount, but after shedding tears, my jersey shot up to first place globally.

By 2011, South Korea, which had been lacking something to rally around, was heated up by the news of my jersey sales achieving the top rank.

Once again, my name was plastered all over the media, and at the same time, my incident began to get highlighted again.

[Jeong Do-cheol, Medieval Automobile Association President, Showcases Talent in Archery! Can He Lead the Poisoned Chalice of the Football Association Well?]

With Jeong Do-cheol newly elected as the president of the Football Association, public interest turned once more towards the Football Association.

[President Jeong Do-cheol Declares ‘We Will Purge the Corruption that is Eating Away at the Football Association.’]

Using public opinion as a shield, he suppressed internal dissent and immediately began reforms.

Though the situation was quite divided among domestic football fans, President Jeong Do-cheol had also shown his capabilities in the archery association.

[President Jeong Do-cheol Appoints Cha Bum-kun as Vice President! ‘It’s Unthinkable to Sacrifice Players. We Will Reform from the Roots!’]

By appointing the football hero Cha Bum-kun as vice president and actively pushing for reforms, he brought hope to the nation.

However, I didn’t have high expectations.

In reality, the position of vice president didn’t hold as much power as one would think.

‘If I recall, weren’t there about 10 vice presidents at one point?’

Since the president appoints the vice presidents, it often feels like the vice presidents are more figureheads than anything else.

Is it any wonder that not a single one of the ten vice presidents spoke out against the scandal of match-fixing?

During the executive meeting, only one member of the professional football league’s secretariat opposed the amnesty for match-fixers, causing a stir.

In fact, not one of the 2002 football heroes had tried to stop the agenda from passing, further disappointing the public.

Well, that doesn’t mean there weren’t any dissenters among the 2002 members.

When Han Myung-bo was the executive director of the Football Association, he firmly opposed the amnesty for match-fixers.

After the 2014 Brazil World Cup, it was a moment for a reevaluation of Han Myung-bo, who had faced adverse public opinion.

Despite being inadequately prepared when appointed as the World Cup coach, perhaps this time would be different with a new president.

After all, South Korean football had entered a dark period post-2014 Brazil World Cup.

I sincerely hoped that this time the reforms would succeed so that South Korean football could thrive without a dark era.

Though this was unrelated to my retirement from the national team, if football’s popularity rose domestically, naturally, my value would rise too.

‘Even besides that, people connected to me are also playing in the K-League. It’d be great if they gained popularity.’

Just then, I found myself worrying about the future of South Korean football.

“Son Jinho…! Is it just my chest that’s big? Am I ugly?”

I heard Han Gyeouri’s voice in my ear.

“No, to my eyes, Gyeouri is the prettiest.”

I wondered if she had seen some weird post on the internet. Since the match ended, Gyeouri had suddenly hugged me and hasn’t left my side for even a moment.

Smooch─!

Like a dog marking its territory, Han Gyeouri rubbed against me.

I didn’t feel bad at her affectionate behavior.

Holding Gyeouri close, I peeked over her shoulder at the posts she was writing.

[Title: Collection of Son Jinho’s Snot Bubbles.]

[Title: Collection of Son Jinho’s Blank Expressions.]

“Ouch!”

I playfully gave her a light flick on her head.

What on earth was she doing?

*

The day after the match against Cologne.

The day of reckoning for Han Gyeouri’s accumulated karma had arrived.

“Son Jinho! Are you watching the game too?”

“Yeah. Today seems like it’ll be fun.”

I sat next to Han Gyeouri, who was lounging on the sofa.

Today was the 9th round of the Premier League. It was the match day between Manchester United and Manchester City.

“After the game, let’s watch the Chelsea match together!”

I even persuaded my mother-in-law, who was about to head into the room, to join us.

Typically, watching something fun together makes it all the more enjoyable.

“Yeah! Mom, let’s watch together! Manchester United wins, and Chelsea wins too!”

Confidently declaring victory, Han Gyeouri pulled on my mother-in-law’s arm and seated her on the sofa.

“Not particularly interested.”

Just as my mother-in-law sat down with a reluctant expression, the match began.

[David Silva! He passes to James Milner on the flank!]

In the 22nd minute, David Silva passed the ball to James Milner, who penetrated the flank.

James Milner sent a cutback pass towards Mario Balotelli.

As Mario Balotelli’s low shot flew into the corner of the net, shaking the Manchester United goal net…

[Why! Always!! Me!! Mario Balotelli, who has suffered from media scrutiny, successfully scores the opener!!]

Han Gyeouri’s expression turned to one of shock.

“…Still! It’s just one goal! We’ll catch up right away!”

At this point, Han Gyeouri was overflowing with confidence.

“…Two goals are definitely catchable.”

[It’s a multi-goal game for Mario Balotelli!!]

But when the second goal for Manchester City came in the 60th minute, Han Gyeouri’s voice started to fade.

[Agueroooo─!!! It’s in! 3-0! Manchester City sinks Manchester United at Old Trafford!!]

When the third goal went in, Han Gyeouri completely lost her voice.

Though Manchester United’s Fletcher managed to score a consolation goal, Han Gyeouri briefly perked up.

But when the fourth goal for Manchester City came in in the 89th minute, her eyes were bloodshot.

“Come on, it’s just a four-goal difference; we can totally turn this around.”

With the fifth goal, my mother-in-law smiled and covered her mouth, comforting Han Gyeouri.

Though my mother-in-law had said she didn’t want to watch Manchester United’s match, she was enjoying it with a bright smile.

And right before the game ended, as Manchester City scored the long-awaited sixth goal against Manchester United, completing the ‘Sixth-Ender City’…

“Hey. Are you crying?”

“…Huh, don’t talk to me.”

Han Gyeouri began to tear up.

I buried my face in the cushion and snapped a picture of the tearful Han Gyeouri to post in the group chat.

Was it because a new target had appeared?

– Beeep

My smartphone rang like crazy, and Han Gyeouri’s face turned red as she checked it.

“Oh… it’s Hongik Ingan.”

*

– Ho-Woo: (A picture of the swollen-eyed Han Gyeouri .jpg)

– Father-in-law: Hahahaha!

– Father-in-law: Our daughter has frog eyes, lol!

– Han Gyeouri: Dad, don’t laugh!

– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: 6:1 at home, haha! Oh, that’s so satisfying, lol!

– Mother-in-law: Hoho, I knew it would turn out this way after all the teasing you did to your uncle and me.

– Gyeouri: …Just wait till Son Jinho transfers to Manchester United, Mom and Uncle!

– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: Your uncle isn’t afraid of anyone, ha!

– Gyeouri: Yeah~ Arsenal got crushed by 8-2 against Man United~

– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: Haha! Manchester United got crushed 6-1 at home, right? Hehe Arsenal wasn’t at home though lol!

[Gyeouri has left the chat.]

– Mother-in-law: Oh dear… what a child, acting so childish.

– Ho-Woo: I think this is your uncle’s fault.

– Ho-Woo: (Video of Han Gyeouri wailing.avi)

– Ho-Woo: 😭 Gyeouri just calmed down, and now she’s crying again 😭

[Chairman Hwang Geum-soon has left the chat.]

*

October 25, 2011.

In the second round of the DFB Pokal Cup, Dortmund faced SG Dynamo Dresden from the second division.

Both Dortmund and Dresden were having a rough time.

In the DFB Pokal Cup, until the second round, teams from the first and second divisions receive professional seeds, while other teams get amateur seeds.

Basically, they match amateur seeds with professional seeds in the draw, and if there’s one side left, it will be a match between either all amateur or professional teams.

If there’s a match between a professional team and an amateur team, the amateur team gets to play at home.

However, since both Dortmund and Dresden were professional seeds, Dortmund, drawn first, got to play at home.

Captain Alexander Schnetzler of SG Dynamo Dresden started gearing up in the entrance tunnel of Dortmund’s home ground, Signal Iduna Park.

“The opponent is the defending champions?! Nonsense! We already took down Leverkusen, the runner-up last season!”

SG Dynamo Dresden, having defeated Leverkusen, the 2010/2011 season’s runner-up, in the first round, was in high spirits.

“Gehen! Gehen!”

But as they passed through the entrance tunnel and witnessed the roars of over 80,000 Dortmund fans…

“Heiliger Scheiße (Holy shit)….”

Their spirits were crushed.

Dortmund’s home ground, Signal Iduna Park, was like hell.

.

.

.

Match end.

[Dortmund wins 2-0! Son Jinho plays full-time!]

[Unfortunately, Son Jinho fails to achieve an attacking point!]

[Jurgen Klopp makes a bewildered expression when asked by a Korean reporter about the reasons for failing to score. ‘Jinho’s position is midfielder, not striker. He contributed significantly to the team’s victory even without scoring.’]

[South Korean football’s hope Son Jinho selected in the final 20 for Golden Boy!]

[What are the chances of Son Jinho, the globally recognized prospect, winning the Golden Boy?]