My Girlfriend Wants Victory

---

“Jinho! Take this to Roman!”

Sebastian Kehl, who was leaving the field due to an injury, handed me the captain’s armband, which was the closest to him.

“Me?”

“You’re the youngest on the team.”

Since I was the youngest due to the injury, it meant I had to pass it to the vice-captain, Roman Weidenfeller…

‘Hmm. That’s too far, right? I think I’ll just wear it for now and hand it over later.’

Roman Weidenfeller was too far away from where I was standing, so I decided to wear the armband for the time being.

And I had a bit of hope.

‘Who knows? They might say it looks good on me and ask me to keep wearing it.’

But looking at the reactions of the Dortmund players, that seemed highly unlikely.

“What’s this? Why is Jinho wearing the captain’s armband?”

“Did the captain tell Jinho to wear it?”

“Then what about Roman?”

“Oh… Roman doesn’t look pleased…”

As I put on the armband I received from Sebastian Kehl, the Dortmund players had bewildered expressions.

I turned to see Roman Weidenfeller.

‘So… this is Dortmund’s vice-captain, huh.’

Roman Weidenfeller, who was guarding the goal and stuck inside the penalty box, began to emanate an immense pressure at the fact that he lost the captain’s armband.

I tried to ignore the cold aura from Roman behind me and focused on the game.

Beeeep—

As the referee blew the whistle, the game resumed with Dortmund taking a free kick.

I sent the ball long into the penalty box.

A sharply rising cross whizzed past Lucas Barrios.

The ball crossed the goal line, resulting in a goal kick for Marseille.

“Ah!”

Dortmund fans sighed in disappointment, while Lucas Barrios covered his face with his jersey.

Next came the goal kick from Marseille.

Marseille’s goalkeeper, Mandanda, cleared the ball long toward the front.

A fierce scramble for possession was happening near the center circle.

Under pressure from Roberto Lewandowski, the ball flowed to İlkay Gündoğan.

“Give me the ball!”

I shouted at İlkay Gündoğan, who immediately passed the ball to me.

I quickly scanned my surroundings before receiving the ball. I could see a Marseille player charging in from both the left and right.

I took my time, faking a touch to let the ball roll and then turned my body to slip past the Marseille players.

Having shaken off the pressure with a single fake move, I sent a pass to Lucas Barrios, who was the striker on the front line.

“Luka! Give me the ball!”

The ball connected to Lucas Barrios, who, with his back to the pressing Marseille defenders, made a one-touch pass to Mario Götze penetrating from the left half-space.

Bam—

Mario Götze’s direct shot shook the side netting of Marseille’s goal.

“Verdammt! (Damn it!)”

Mario Götze, having failed to score, kicked at the grass in frustration.

“Good! Mario, you did well! Just score next time!”

I gently touched the captain’s armband and encouraged Mario Götze. This is the dignity a captain should have, right?

With a reluctant expression, Mario Götze nodded, and I got a bit carried away by my own image wearing the armband.

The game continued with Dortmund leading the attack while Marseille defended.

‘Is it because I’m wearing the captain’s armband? The game feels oddly smooth.’

I vigorously roamed the field, acting as the lubricant for both attack and defense.

As Dortmund kept pressing forward, Marseille’s sturdy defense started to crumble.

Beeeep—

But unfortunately, just before Dortmund could rattle Marseille’s net, the referee’s whistle sounded, signaling the end of the game.

‘If we had just a bit more time, we could have broken through Marseille’s goal!’

I entered the locker room with a disappointed expression.

“Jinho—!”

And then, following me, a visibly angry Roman Weidenfeller stormed into the locker room.

“Ah! Roman! Here’s the captain’s armband. The captain sent it over.”

I quickly took off the captain’s armband and handed it to Roman Weidenfeller.

“…”

Roman Weidenfeller looked like he had a lot to say but couldn’t utter a word, gritting his teeth at my innocent face as I cheerfully handed over the armband.

“Wow… If someone didn’t know any better, they might have thought you’re a Neo-Nazi bullying an Asian boy and reported you to the police.”

*

The second half between Dortmund and Marseille kicked off.

[Oh… The captain’s armband that Jinho was wearing went to Roman Weidenfeller right as the second half started. It seems like this wasn’t discussed beforehand with the Dortmund squad.]

└ What? Did that guy just put it on himself?

└ Honestly, I didn’t get why Jinho was wearing the captain armband, ignoring the hierarchy;;

└ Haha, Jinho was a total clown, wasn’t he?

└ For real, if I were a veteran, I would’ve smacked him.

During halftime, the Korean commentary team, which had been hyping up Jinho’s captain debut, could only lament.

[… Yes, Jinho is certainly a playful player.]

└ The commentator is such a drama queen;;

└ Ugh, so embarrassing;;

└ I feel shame for him.

└ But let’s be honest, he did shine a bit, right?

└ It really was impressive.

[Hmm… Dortmund dominated possession with 70% in the first half, but unfortunately, they couldn’t score.]

└ LOL, look at them being embarrassed.

└ ???: We might just be witnessing the legendary childhood of a future star live!

└ Eek! Stop it!!!!

└ Oh god, I’m cringing so hard haha!

└ That’s a real-time history of shame being created!

[That’s right. Dortmund had several good chances. However, it seems they were a bit lacking in breaking through Marseille’s sturdy defense.]

└ Jinho should shoot from distance more often;;

└ For real; why isn’t he shooting?

└ You have to be in a position to shoot, right?

└ My brother gets double-teamed as soon as he gets the ball;;

└ Is that why he’s not scoring in the league lately?

└ Yeah, when two guys stick to you, how can you shoot from distance?

└ That’s just an excuse haha; it’s all nonsense!

└ A true world-class player breaks through those barriers and scores well ^^

The viewers, who had been teasing the commentators, began to squabble among themselves.

‘Here they go again, what a routine?’

Seeing this, the commentary team regained their composure and continued the second half coverage of Dortmund vs. Marseille.

[Just before the first half ended, in the matchup between Arsenal and Olympiacos, Arsenal put their full strength into scoring the opening goal and took the lead. If this score holds, based on their past records, Marseille might end up in second place, and Dortmund would finish third in the group, heading to the Europa League.]

[Dortmund desperately needs a win to advance to the Champions League knockout stage! They subbed out the tired Mario Götze and brought in Ivan Perišić to maintain their attacking momentum!]

[Marseille, too, decided to take out Stéphane Mbia, who received a yellow card in the first half.]

[It makes sense to be cautious with a card like that.]

[The second half of both teams officially begins!]

*

The game between Dortmund and Marseille unfolded rapidly.

[The fourth official raises the extra time sign. Dortmund has been given three minutes.]

As the match’s end drew near, anxious Dortmund fans began to involuntarily rise from their seats one by one.

“Olé! Olé! Olé!”

With the desperate cheers of the Dortmund home crowd behind him, Son Jinho, having moved down past the half line, immediately attempted a long pass.

[Jinho’s long pass!]

The long ball aimed perfectly at Ivan Perišić, positioned on the left flank.

The comfortable pass from Jinho made Ivan Perišić break into a smile.

Dodging Marseille’s tackle with light footwork, Ivan Perišić sprinted into Marseille’s territory.

“Heja!! BVB!!”

The home fans erupted as Dortmund’s attack came.

Feigning to cut inside, Ivan Perišić deceived a Marseille defender before cutting back to the side for a cross.

Ivan Perišić’s cross landed perfectly on Lucas Barrios’ forehead, and the Dortmund fans held their breath, anxiously watching the pitch.

But Marseille’s goalkeeper, Mandanda, displayed beast-like reflexes, successfully saving Lucas Barrios’ header.

“Ah…!!”

At the same moment, Dortmund fans, clutching their heads in despair.

The ball deflected from Mandanda’s save and fell into the penalty box.

“…!! Get over here, you bastards!”

In Mandanda’s line of sight, Son Jinho charged towards the ball.

Bam—

Son Jinho, having sprinted from the half-line, shot with all his might, causing Marseille’s net to ripple.

“Damn it.”

Mandanda looked helplessly at the rippling net.

[GOOOAL—! Son Jinho’s shot penetrates Marseille’s net! Dortmund has effectively secured their advancement to the knockout stage!!]

“Wooohhhhh—!”

Having scored, Son Jinho dashed towards the corner flag to celebrate.

Beep! Beep! Beep—

Not long after that, the match ended.

[The referee blows the final whistle! Dortmund has successfully advanced to the Champions League knockout stage!!]

Dortmund players, desperately longing for a spot in the knockout stage, rushed onto the pitch as the match ended.

“Roman! Give me the captain’s armband! Damn it! For today, Jinho is the captain!”