My Girlfriend Wants Victory

---

*

A little before the time when Ferguson and Son Jinho met.

“Do you think you guys are worth something right now?”

Ferguson’s hairdryer treatment unfolded in the locker room, fueled by the frustration over Manchester United players’ performance.

‘…If I ever witness such a brutal scene in real time, there’s no way I’d join Man U.’

The sudden cancellation of the scheduled meeting with players by the club official was also due to Ferguson’s hairdryer treatment.

“Berbatov, you’re no exception, you bastard! Just because you scored multiple goals doesn’t mean the match is over!”

Ferguson was someone who unreservedly showered the players with criticisms as much as he provided consistent trust and encouragement.

‘Hmm. He’s even angrier today.’

While the club official wished for the players’ well-being, Ferguson’s gaze fell on Pogba, who was pale in the corner of the locker room.

“You want to play on the ground? Then prove it with your skills! A punk like you can’t even keep up with the retired Scholes’ feet!”

After scalding each one with affectionate yet heated reprimands, Ferguson approached Park Jisong.

“Ji!”

‘…What did I do wrong?’

Park Jisong froze in tension as Ferguson approached.

Despite being an experienced player at Manchester United, facing an angry Ferguson was still intimidating.

Perhaps it was because he was one of the fewer players who didn’t often get scolded.

The atmosphere was so tense it felt suffocating.

But fortunately, Ferguson wasn’t there to scold Park Jisong.

“Do you have time this evening?”

The fact that it wasn’t under the hairdryer treatment made Park Jisong feel at ease.

“Ah, I have a prior engagement…”

“Who with?”

“Uh? Son Jinho from Dortmund, a national team junior…”

“Great. I’ll join you.”

Park Jisong’s expression stiffened at Ferguson’s following words.

‘Hmm. I was going to suggest someone to set up a meeting, but this works out well.’

On the other hand, Ferguson nodded with a satisfied expression.

It was nearly a year since Son Jinho started performing at Dortmund.

His name had reached both Ferguson and the Manchester United scouts’ ears.

He was one of the young, promising players shaking the football world lately.

No coach would dislike a footballer who worked hard on both ends of the field.

And above all, what impressed Ferguson was Son’s loyalty to his team and his consideration for his fans.

There was already a famous story of him chatting for two hours with a Korean student who recognized him, even causing the student to be late and fail a test.

‘He’s a player worthy of being at the center of the rebuilding.’

Thus, Ferguson couldn’t afford to miss this opportunity.

Tampering?

After all, there was no one to protect it, and the association didn’t bother trying to catch it.

Only the regulations existed, and it was common practice to claim that they hadn’t talked about transfers.

“Ah… yes. Then I’ll see you in the evening.”

“Oh, and if possible, keep it a surprise that I’m coming.”

If he announced his presence, it might put pressure on the meeting and cause it to be postponed.

“Yes.”

Park Jisong couldn’t refuse Ferguson, who was in charitable spirits.

The result was….

“Nice to meet you.”

And now, here we are.

*

“Uh… nice to meet you.”

I shook hands with a blank expression, taking in the towering figure before me.

Alex Ferguson.

A living legend who brought Manchester United to the pinnacle of European football and revived British football after the Heysel disaster, awarded a knight’s title in England, and the football coach that Han Gyeouri admires and respects the most.

“C-can I get your autograph, please!”

Han Gyeouri, who was standing close by with her arms crossed, dashed out in an instant to get Ferguson’s signature, making it evident how much it meant to her.

I watched as Ferguson kindly signed for her while keeping his gaze locked on me, like a grandfather looking at his granddaughter.

I felt as if I was being scrutinized under Ferguson’s sharp gaze.

I held my ground and confidently met Ferguson’s eyes, and a satisfied smile spread across his lips.

“Uh, um, also a photo….”

Just as Han Gyeouri was about to speak up for another request,

“Han Gyeouri, don’t hover around adults and come over here!”

Her mother called her over.

“Mom, I’ll just take a quick photo! And I’m older than Son Jinho….”

“Shush─! Aren’t you coming over quickly?”

“…Okay, I’ll be right there.”

At her mother’s assertive words, Han Gyeouri, with sad eyes like a calf being led to slaughter, took one last look at us before moving.

“Hoho… what a lovely sight to see between mother and daughter.”

“…Is that so? Ouch!”

“Indeed, it’s like a sisterly bond.”

Mrs. Ferguson sat down with Han Gyeouri and Park Jisong’s mother, starting a conversation.

Ferguson then turned to me with a smiling expression.

“Shall we have a chat ourselves?”

*

Was it because they lost the match?

Ferguson’s face was slightly red.

“Make yourself comfortable.”

It seemed I had a rather uncomfortable expression, like a puppy desperately needing to relieve itself, and he encouraged me with a youthful smile.

– My throat is choking! You’re the one who made me feel this way!

Ferguson’s words suddenly reminded me of song lyrics.

“I saw the Champions League match against Arsenal. You did well.”

The discomfort faded momentarily as Ferguson changed the atmosphere with small talk.

“Oh. Thank you.”

Ferguson began speaking in a warm tone, as if addressing a grandson, and I soon found myself engaging in various conversations with him.

“Winning is important in football, but in life, football is the smallest and least significant part.”

“What’s the most important thing then?”

“Life is most important. Compared to life, football is really just a small part.”

I nodded at Ferguson’s words.

Ferguson shared many similarities with me.

‘Now that I think about it, didn’t Mrs. Cathy mention she found it hard to see him alone and said he retired?’

So even Coach Ferguson was a lover, huh?

“Why did you start playing football?”

I recalled the reason I started playing football after Ferguson’s question.

“My girlfriend was a football fan.”

“What a wonderful motivation. Speaking of which, how is your team’s coach?”

Images of Jürgen, who fell on the pitch holding his hamstring, came to mind, causing a smile to unconsciously form on my lips.

“Jürgen? He’s a great guy.”

“A good person… he must be a good coach then.”

Now that I think about it, Jürgen Klopp and Ferguson seem to share some similarities.

Are they both coaches pulling players’ capabilities to the max?

They felt different from tacticians like Guardiola or Tuchel, who radiate a stronger sense of strategy.

Having felt that the small talk had eased some of the tension, Ferguson suddenly adopted a serious expression and got to the point.

“Join Manchester United.”

Ferguson cautiously continued his words.

“Dortmund is a good club, but it’s not the best. You know that, don’t you?”

I knew the history of Manchester United after Ferguson’s retirement.

Thump—

Yet, my heart began to race when I received the offer from Ferguson.

Is this why Juyong hyung went to Arsenal?

But I’m not Jesus Christ, ready to step into a thorny path wearing a crown of thorns and carrying a cross.

So,

I needed at least minimal safety measures.

“If you declare your retirement within my contract period, could you add a release clause to let me go?”

I proposed to Coach Ferguson.

I noticed that Mrs. Cathy and Gyeouri seemed to have struck up a close friendship.

If this clause was included, wouldn’t Ferguson think twice before retiring?

Just as Ferguson was about to answer after deliberating, Park Jisong, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, interjected.

“…But isn’t Jinho still unable to transfer?”

“Oh. Right.”

*

Ferguson and Mrs. Cathy were the first to get up from their seats.

“Grandma, I’ll call you!”

“Okay, make sure to contact often.”

Han Gyeouri politely bid farewell and escorted Mrs. Cathy out.

An awkward silence fell between Park Jisong and me, who were left behind.

Suddenly, Park Jisong tried to leave the house.

“Hyung, where are you going?”

“Uh, I think something suddenly came up.”

“Aren’t you forgetting something you wanted to say other than urgent matters?”

“Um…. Sorry, but the coach wanted to see you.”

Park Jisong approached me with an embarrassed expression to apologize, and I accepted his apology.

“It’s okay, hyung. Thanks to you, I got to hear a lot of good things.”

Well, I had imagined that if I visited Manchester United, I might meet Ferguson.

I never imagined it would happen like this….

Still, it was a valuable time where I could learn a lot.

‘And we even shared opinions about the conditions regarding the transfer, right?’

I wanted to ensure Dortmund, currently facing financial difficulties, received sufficient transfer fees.

Ferguson agreed under the condition that it wasn’t an excessive amount.

And above all, the most valuable result was that he would include the treaty that activated the release clause if he retired within the contract period.

Wouldn’t that lead to Ferguson contemplating once before he retired?

As I reminisced about my conversation with Ferguson, Park Jisong cautiously opened his mouth.

“By the way, Jinho, are you really going to retire from the national team?”

“I already retired, though?”

“Still, wouldn’t it be better to debut and then retire? It seems the fans want that too.”

I responded to Jisong hyung’s words with silence, and he didn’t press the issue further.

‘Seems someone must have asked him to mention it.’