My Girlfriend Wants Victory

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FC Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund’s match has concluded.

[No Upset! FC Barcelona defeats Dortmund 3-2 and advances to the Champions League semifinals!]

The match result was a 3-2 victory for FC Barcelona.

[Despite the loss, Dortmund’s coach Jürgen Klopp smiles brightly. “Although we lost the match, I am proud of my players who fought until the end. FC Barcelona is the best club, and we showed the potential to defeat the best.”]

In the face-off between the two teams, the spotlight was stolen not by Messi or the three idiots, but by Son Jinho.

People noted that the defending champion FC Barcelona, who had dominated last season, was pushed to the brink of elimination by Dortmund in their home stadium, Camp Nou.

[Unbelievable Growth? Son Jinho’s fantastic play made FC Barcelona break into a cold sweat.]

[FC Barcelona in a crisis moment! The crossbar saved them!]

Simultaneously, articles poured in about Son Jinho’s rapid growth over a short period.

[Responding to the ‘God of Football’ Lionel Messi’s uniform exchange request!]

└ Kyaaa! This is the man recognized by Messi!

└ Wow;; Isn’t this the first time Messi requested a uniform exchange?

└ No no, there was Zidane, but this is the first since Zidane.

└ Just a big deal…

[Japan’s national football team is jealous, and China’s national football team is in despair over Son Jinho!]

└ They’re talking about how Son Jinho’s emergence is a victory for Asians, talking all that trash, lol.

└ Lmao, is this the Great East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere? lol

└ When I asked a Japanese friend studying in Korea why he liked Son Jinho after he scored, he said Korea and Japan are one, talking about “Ilseong Ilche,” can I slap him?

└ Don’t just slap him; give him a big smack!

└ Seems like that Japanese guy wants to get hit for saying “Ilseong Ilche,” lol.

*

After the uniform exchange with Messi, I had to wait to take a doping test.

After the match, UEFA randomly selected one player from each team for the doping test.

They chose me from the Dortmund side.

Well, I did have an incredible performance that was hard to believe.

If my last long-range shot had resulted in a goal, it would’ve been Dortmund advancing to the semifinals instead of FC Barcelona.

“…I’m dehydrated, so I can’t pee.”

Most of the moisture inside my body had evaporated, and I had lost 4kg compared to before the match.

Naturally, there was no urine for the doping test.

“Here’s some water. Please drink.”

I sighed and accepted the bottle of water from the UEFA staff.

“Is that enough?”

“Yes, I’ll let you know the results soon.”

After barely submitting my urine sample, I dragged my exhausted body onto the club bus, and we set off to Barcelona El Prat International Airport.

– Gyeouri: You’ll know when you come!

– Gyeouri: (The bear Kon with a sly smile.)

– Gyeouri: Look forward to it! I’ll treat you well!

We were leaving Barcelona to return home, where my family was waiting for me.

‘Hmm… 14km of running, and my stamina hasn’t fully recovered yet, till night?’

Upon checking with Gyeouri, I immediately asked my mother-in-law for help.

– Me: Mother-in-law.

– Cheolmo: Huh? What’s up, why are you texting me directly?

– Me: Please save me.

– Cheolmo: ???

*

– Gyeouri: Son Jinho, you worked hard!

– Cheolmo: Right, Jinho must have had a tough time today. Make sure he doesn’t do anything and let him rest well tonight.

– Gyeouri: What should I do?

– Cheolmo: Oh dear. Gyeouri, Jinho’s room isn’t soundproof.

– Gyeouri: (The bear Kon looking flustered.)

– Father-in-law: All I ask is for you to practice safe sex.

– Gyeouri: (The bear Kon in shock.)

– Chairman Hwang: What are your plans for a second child? Personally, I hope the second one also plays football.

[Gyeouri has left the chat room.]

*

The day I returned to Dortmund from Barcelona.

Thanks to my mother-in-law’s full winter watch, I managed to rest safely.

And the next day.

I woke up late in the afternoon.

– If it had just hit a bit lower there, it would’ve been Dortmund advancing to the semifinals, not FC Barcelona. If that happened, the odds I would’ve received would be…

– Huh? Odds?

– Ahem, oh, it’s nothing.

Gyeouri sat next to me on the sofa after returning from school, and we watched TV side by side.

– Anyway, in this match, Jinho displayed his best performance. In both the first and second legs, he scored two goals and gave FC Barcelona cold sweats.

The TV announcer talked about my performance against FC Barcelona.

[Title: Jinho the Class recognized even in Germany]

└ Hooowwwww─!

└ Kya… even without eating recently, I feel full.

Gyeouri cuddled up in my arms, looking satisfied as she posted on the Ho-woo gallery.

“Are you ready for school tomorrow?”

“I’ve done everything!”

Watching that, my mother-in-law said.

It was a scene commonly seen in ordinary families, the kind I missed.

“Jinho, make sure you prepare, too! Since it’s been a while since you’ve been to school!”

“Yes.”

Just as I was returning to my room to prepare for school, my smartphone rang.

Woo-woo─!

It was a call from Sir Ferguson.

*

Alex Ferguson watched the recording of the match between FC Barcelona and Dortmund with his own eyes.

He couldn’t take his eyes off Son Jinho, who was undeterred and kept fighting against FC Barcelona.

‘Dedicated and intelligent.’

Everything about him was excellent.

The only regret was that he hadn’t discovered the gem before it shone.

‘No, to be precise, the gem revealed its shine earlier than expected.’

It seemed like it would cost more than anticipated, but no matter the price, he had to sign him.

This might be the last legacy he could leave at Manchester United.

Not just skills, but he also had to consider his character, and it didn’t seem like there’d be any major issues.

After all, Son Jinho’s girlfriend didn’t seem to have a good relationship with his wife, Cathy.

Ferguson recalled the phone conversation he had overheard by chance.

– Your boyfriend is too popular, and you’re worried, huh?

Cathy Ferguson and Gyeouri were building a friendship that transcended age, starting from love advice.

– A wife must hold her husband tight.

Ferguson recalled the moment he moved boxes while missing a friendly match.

‘A good marriage with a good woman stabilizes men.’

Having finished contemplating Son Jinho, Ferguson called the club owner.

“Glazer. Get over to the manager’s office right now.”

– Huh?

Joel Glazer’s surprised voice echoed back. Ferguson’s voice turned cold.

“Are we gathering to shovel snow on a snow day or are you coming now?”

– …I’ll be there shortly.

It might seem absurd that a manager treats an owner this way, but only Ferguson could do it.

He was Manchester United personified.

And Ferguson didn’t call the owner without reason.

There was much to be prepared for to secure the future of Manchester United.

As he waited a short time for the owner to arrive at the manager’s office, Ferguson called Son Jinho.

“So, what are you doing, the one who captured the attention of football coaches worldwide?”

– …I’m preparing for school.

It was time for what they called a ‘good feeling.’

*

The conversation with Ferguson was nothing special. It was just a casual chat about life and the little things.

He thought it was a busy time, but well…

After all, it’s Ferguson. Who would worry about whom?

“Ugh… people are staring too much.”

As we walked to school, Gyeouri pulled her hat down low, overwhelmed by the gazes of people around us.

“Jinho, can I take a picture?”

A Korean-German approached me awkwardly asking for a photo in broken Korean.

The western region where Dortmund is located is rich in mines, and it’s a region where many immigrants and nurses from the 1980s settled.

That’s why while walking, you could meet both former miners and nurses, as well as their descendants.

Among them, some expressed unexpected gratitude.

“Thank you…”

Because of their skin color, their grandson had made a friend.

Seeing the elderly repeatedly expressing their gratitude stirred various emotions within me.

Rough hands and faces marked by deep wrinkles.

The traces of a hard-lived life were vividly engraved.

Suddenly, I recalled teacher Cha Bum-kun’s words about holding the pain of the “Tarabong” miners and nurses close to heart.

I felt like I understood, if only a little, how he must have felt when he said that.

Though it wasn’t a big gesture, I decided to invite the elderly to the upcoming home match against Bayern Munich.

And during my time in Dortmund, I vowed to show my best side as much as I could.

*

After getting eliminated from the Champions League, the hellish schedule that stretched over three to four days had finally ended.

Well.

There was still the DFB Pokal Cup final left, but.

In 2012, the DFB Pokal Cup final was held after the Champions League final, so this respite would continue for a while.

The league’s 29th round match against Wolfsburg was set.

Not long after the game began.

The Dortmund players looked at each other with bewildered expressions.

It wasn’t an unexpected disaster at all.

It was simply.

“Hoowwwww─!”

The opponent was just too weak.

‘Is this what they call reverse perception?’