My Girlfriend Wants Victory

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Sure! Here’s the direct English translation:

*

“Shit, shit, shit─!”

“Is this a draw? Is this really a draw?!”

“UEFA’s deputy secretary-general, go die, you bastard!”

The fact that FC Barcelona, the strongest team in the world and the defending champion, was drawn as the opponent for the quarter-finals left Dortmund’s clubhouse shrouded in shock and horror.

“…Heh heh.”

“Jürgen has lost it.”

Even Jürgen Klopp, who was supposed to calm the players, let out a hollow laugh as if he was in a daze.

This reaction wasn’t limited to just Dortmund.

Similar reactions began flooding in from South Korea, Son Jinho’s home country.

[Breaking News) Dortmund’s opponent in the quarter-finals is the world’s strongest FC Barcelona.]

└ Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit

└ This is gonna be a tough one, isn’t it? ;;

└ For real;; If you look at last season, you’ll get it. There’s no answer here

└ Still, isn’t it a bit early to give up before the game even starts?

└ The football is round, and the game isn’t over until the final whistle!

└ What the hell, Messi has over 50 goals this season. How are we supposed to win this? Haha

└ 50 goals? Is he even human? Hahahaha

└ There’s still a long way to go until the season ends.

└ Oh wow, I can hear Son Jinho getting wrecked by the messiah from here.

└ No~ not at all! My bro will stop Messi and we’ll rise up!

└ I’m rooting for my bro too, but it feels like we’re too far gone here.

└ For real;; Does 50 goals look like nothing to you?

└ Messi will give him a stitch-up, no worries Hahahahahaha

The entire world had an instinctual feeling of Dortmund’s defeat, displaying emotions of fear or sorrow, but Son Jinho felt a bit differently.

‘Phew~ Let’s calm down.’

It felt more like excitement than fear.

‘Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, and Messi.’

The thought of actually facing the historically strongest midfield trio, whom he had only seen on TV in his previous life, made Son Jinho’s heart race with exhilaration.

*

FC Barcelona.

The team renowned as having the greatest midfield trio in football history: Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, along with the 24-year-old peak Lionel Messi.

The players of FC Barcelona were watching the Champions League quarter-final draw in their training ground and clubhouse, Ciutat Esportiva, just like Dortmund.

They were spread out according to their individual personalities while keeping an eye on the draw results.

At one table sat the calm and introverted Messi along with the three stooges (Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets), engaging in conversation.

“Hm. This could be an interesting match?”

“Especially since Pep seems quite fond of that little brat from Dortmund. He seems to consider him as a replacement for Andrés?”

At Sergio Busquets’s words, Andrés Iniesta’s expression contorted.

“I don’t like it.”

Given Iniesta’s humble, taciturn, and introverted nature, his teammates around him were taken aback and stared at him in surprise.

“Andrés?”

“He’s too tall to be my replacement.”

“Oh. Andrés, shouldn’t we mention the face then?”

“What? His face is similar, isn’t it?”

As Iniesta casually shrugged and continued speaking, Messi and the three stooges burst into laughter.

‘Jinho seems to have an oddly high level of match experience for his age. This could be quite fun.’

While Messi was evaluating Son Jinho’s play as recalled by the analyst,

“Andrés, that remark you just made was as shameless as your hairline.”

While casually moving to get a drink, Gerard Piqué, with his lush locks, playfully commented as he overheard the four’s conversation.

“….”

Even Andrés Iniesta, who was joking around with his teammates, turned serious this time.

Baldness was Iniesta’s sore spot.

“Apologize.”

“…Sorry.”

Andrés Iniesta, the god of dribbling and one of the world’s best midfielders, was genuinely hurt because he couldn’t shake off the pressure of baldness.

‘…Is that really something to get that angry about?’

Messi, who couldn’t relate to Iniesta’s anger, thought it was a non-issue since he had already conquered the curse of baldness.

*

After Dortmund’s opponent for the quarter-finals was confirmed to be FC Barcelona, time flew by.

Dortmund secured a 2-0 victory against Werder Bremen in their league match on March 17.

Then, on March 21, they also emerged victorious in the DFB-Pokal semi-finals against Greuther Fürth after extra time and successfully advanced to the finals.

“Then let’s rest the players against Köln. March 29 will surely be a tough day.”

Jürgen Klopp decided to rest the starting players in the league match against Köln on March 25, right before the first leg of the Champions League match on March 29.

Having already established a sufficient points gap from Bayern Munich, it didn’t take long for him to decide on giving the players a break.

[Dortmund, missing key players including Son Jinho, barely wins 1-0 against lower-ranked Köln.]

Just before the end of the match, Dortmund secured the victory with a decisive goal from Lucas Barrios, calling the aircraft carrier FC Barcelona to Signal Iduna Park for their Champions League quarter-final first leg.

*

On March 29, before the Champions League match against Barcelona.

Jürgen Klopp entered the locker room and began the tactical briefing while displaying the goal scorers’ rankings of FC Barcelona players.

Starting with Xavi with 14 goals, then Alexis Sánchez and Fabregas with 15 goals.

“Jinho! How many goals have you scored?”

“I can’t quite remember, but it should be more than 14, right?”

“As far as I remember, it’s 16.”

“Oh… Lewa, how do you know that?”

“…He scored one more than me.”

“Lewa better step up his game.”

“….”

“Well, anyway, Jinho scored more than Xavi or Fabregas.”

The screen displayed Lionel Messi’s scoring record of 55 goals.

As the players conversed while looking at the screen, they were dumbfounded when Messi’s scoring record was revealed.

“Huh….”

“55 goals this season? Is he even human?”

“…Shit.”

Jürgen Klopp chuckled at the absurd record while smiling at the sight of the players starting to feel despair.

Everything was going according to his plan.

“We are not the best.”

Klopp didn’t only consider the tactical aspects. He believed that the emotions the players held would make a difference.

“But we are a team that can defeat the best.”

By showing them an overwhelmingly successful rival to instill despair, he constantly sent them unwavering trust.

As long as the players thought, ‘Let’s just give it our all,’ it would be deemed a success.

“Honestly, the odds of us beating Barcelona and advancing to the semi-finals are slim.”

However, if all the team members ran for victory with every ounce of strength, maybe they could make it work.

“But because it’s you, there is definitely a chance.”

Just as Klopp’s speech came to a close,

The screen displayed the scene of Signal Iduna Park.

“Don’t forget. Behind us for this match stands Signal Iduna Park.”

The screen showed the stands filled with spectators singing at the top of their lungs, cheering long before the game even began.

“We will always be by your side.”

The players, forgetting about their fear of facing FC Barcelona, unconsciously started singing along with the supporters’ chants.

*

Dortmund’s home fans passionately sang chants not faltering against the world’s strongest team, FC Barcelona.

The Champions League anthem echoed through Signal Iduna Park, and card sections unfolded in the South Stand.

Normally, I would have enjoyed the fervent support of the Dortmund crowd, but my eyes were glued to the Barcelona players.

Daniel Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Puyol, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, 77-billion-won Alexis Sánchez.

And there he was, the god of football, Lionel Messi.

Was it just a coincidence?

Messi’s gaze unexpectedly shifted toward me.

We stared at each other silently for a significant moment.

After a short yet long exchange of glances,

With the referee’s whistle, the match between the two teams began, and surprisingly, Dortmund took the lead early on.

FC Barcelona made mistakes as they were flustered by Dortmund’s organized and swift pressing.

However, Dortmund’s attacks did not lead to scoring.

As time passed and Barcelona adapted to Dortmund’s pressure, they slowly regained their pace.

Gradually, Barcelona began to take possession against Dortmund and eventually locked them in their half with overwhelming possession.

Build-up play was centered around Busquets, Xavi, and Iniesta.

Having quickly scanned the surroundings, Xavi Hernández easily got the ball through Kagawa Shinji’s legs and delivered a precision pass right under the foot of Sanchez.

Even with four players rushing in, the mind-boggling one-two pass that shook off the pressure made me involuntarily chuckle.

Sanchez’s pass reached Messi, and Messi one-touched it to Fabregas.

Fabregas used his heel to pass it in Messi’s direction as he darted forward.

Messi’s sudden shot, a tick faster, flew toward the goal, leaving Roman Weidenfeller frozen, unable to react in time.

“…verrückter Monster (crazy monster bastard.)”

But luckily, Messi’s shot hit the post and went out of bounds.

‘My words vanished; this isn’t good….’

As Barcelona’s attacks intensified, the communication among Dortmund’s players on the field began to diminish.

“Talk! Use your mouths to communicate!”

From the touchline, Jürgen Klopp repeatedly emphasized communication to the players, but it didn’t reach their ears.

In a situation where the atmosphere had fully shifted to FC Barcelona, the ensuing goal kick for Dortmund.

The ball that struck Sebastian Kehl from behind fortuitously rolled toward me.

After lightly trapping it with my chest, just before the ball hit the ground,

Bbang─!

I twisted my body half a turn towards the goal and struck. The well-positioned shot flew over the goalkeeper’s head and rattled the net.

Swoosh─!

Hearing that I had scored against FC Barcelona, the so-called strongest team, blood rushed to my head; I dashed toward the stands and raised my fist excitedly into the air.

“jaaaaaaaa─!!!”

The excitement of the equally thrilled Dortmund fans enveloped me.

*

[Ahhhhh! Son Jinho! Son Jinho has scored the opening goal against the world’s strongest FC Barcelona!!!]

└ Whoooaaa─!!

└ Kyaaaa─! My boyfriend Son Jinho is insane!!!!!

└ What the hell! What an absolute legendary goal;;

└ Shit, isn’t this a Puskas-worthy goal?

└ For real, scoring against FC Barcelona with that goal is indeed off the charts in impact;;

[At that time, the momentum was gradually shifting toward FC Barcelona, right? Son Jinho strikes with a decisive blow at the moment the team needed it! Isn’t this what an ace and a superstar is all about!?]

[That’s right! If FC Barcelona has Messi, then Dortmund has Son Jinho! Dortmund is starting to pull ahead against the world’s strongest and defending champion FC Barcelona! And the author of the opening goal is the pride of South Korea! The historically great football genius born in South Korea, Son Jinho!!!]