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***

[D-6 Until the Bundesliga Second Half Starts]

Not long after Dortmund’s training resumed, the opening match of the second half approached.

[Dortmund in Title Race with Bayern Munich, Winter Transfer Market ‘0 In?’]

So far, there have been no special signings or departures in Dortmund’s winter transfer market.

In the original timeline, Ivan Perišić left for Wolfsburg after clashing with Jürgen Klopp due to dissatisfaction with his playing time.

But this time, it was different.

Thanks to my shining personality and care.

The brilliant Ivan Perišić adapted wonderfully to Dortmund.

Hmm.

– Golden Boy: Jinho, to be the best, you must train consistently like me.

Lately, completing care for the other Golden Boy, Ronaldo, I felt like Dr. Oh in the Golden Boy report.

– Ho-woo: That’s right.

– Ho-woo: I’ve been training all this time. What about you?

– Ho-woo: Don’t tell me you’ve just been resting inside?

– Golden Boy: Hah. Of course, I’m in the middle of shooting practice.

Well, it’s not that I dislike caring for Golden Boy Ronaldo. It’s a bit tiring, but talking to Ronaldo creates a strange competitive spirit within me as a football player.

– Ho-woo: I’m gonna shoot 200 times tomorrow.

– Golden Boy: Then I’ll shoot 300 times tomorrow.

– Ho-woo: Now that I think about it, I need to shoot 1,000 times.

– Golden Boy: Then I guess I need to shoot 10,000 times.

Honestly, sometimes I wonder if this is all a conversation for grown-ups, and I feel an existential crisis hit me.

Don’t the older folks revert to their schoolboy slang when they meet old classmates from their youth?

Talking with Ronaldo, my idol from school days reminded me of those times.

– Ho-woo: You bastard. Why did you no-show?

– Golden Boy: Hey Jinho.

– Golden Boy: Sorry, but I can’t understand your native language.

– Ho-woo: Ah. Sorry, I sent that by mistake.

That moment I no-showed at Sangam World Cup Stadium, abandoning my ten million younger brother.

Now that I think about it, I couldn’t sleep properly that night with the escalating anger in my chest.

“Ah. Thinking about that time is freaking infuriating.”

Anyway, just like any other day, after finishing team training, I headed home.

“Hey, Son Jinho.”

With a playful smile, Han Gyeouri approached.

“Why do you call me, Han Gyeouri?”

“…Son Jinho, why does your tone sound like that?”

I quickly reverted my tone. It seemed I had been infected by the Ronaldo virus.

“Ah. I picked up a weird friend’s tone. By the way, why did you call me?”

“Hehe. It’s nothing much, just wanted to say you worked hard today. Here! I’ll allow you a special kiss!”

As Han Gyeouri finished her words, she stuck out her right cheek.

I gently pecked her cheek, which had been increasingly cute lately, and hugged her.

Hmm. Is this healing?

It felt like the mental pollution from being tormented by the Golden Boys was being cured.

***

On January 15, 2013, while juggling the care of the Golden Boys and busy daily training at Dortmund.

[Nuri Şahin returning to Dortmund?]

News broke out that Nuri Şahin, unable to settle at Real Madrid, was coming back to Dortmund.

“Is Nuri really returning?”

“It seems so.”

“Well, since he used to roll around under Jürgen Klopp, he’s basically match-ready.”

The front office and players welcomed Nuri Şahin’s return, but the fans’ reaction was cold.

It was somewhat expected given how Nuri Şahin left the team under not-so-great terms.

[Nuri Şahin’s Return, Is It the Best Option?]

└ Nuri is a good player, but do we really need him?

└ Don’t we need a backup for Schmelzer instead?

Well… if he comes back to Dortmund and plays with dedication for the team, it’ll quickly change the fans’ minds.

Just like Kim Hak-bum, who carried Korea’s advancement to the Round of 16 in the Qatar World Cup.

Anyway, time passed and with the Bundesliga second half opening looming close.

Nuri Şahin’s return to Dortmund was confirmed.

***

[Nuri Şahin, Returning to Dortmund on Loan!]

└ Wow, this guy is coming back.

└ For real, the last time he went to Real, I thought he’d grow even more.

└ It seems important for a promising player to go to a team where he can actually play.

└ That’s true, but injuries played a big role too.

└ Suddenly, I’m reminded of how amazing our brother is that he hasn’t suffered any injuries.

└ The steel king, whoa!!

[Jurgen Klopp: “Nuri Şahin will inject vitality into the team.”]

[BUNDESLIGA SECOND HALF STARTS! DORTMUND FACES SV WERDER BREMEN!]

└ Damn, finally!!!!

└ I’ve been waiting forever ㅠㅠ

└ Tomorrow, I’ll be able to shout Ho-woo, right? Tomorrow, I’ll be able to shout Ho-woo, right?

└ A month without being able to shout Ho-woo felt like hell.

└ Tbh, I went through withdrawal symptoms. I opened the window at dawn yesterday and shouted Ho-woo, but then I got cussed out.

└ Are you insane?

└ Typical younger brother behavior, lol.

[Nuri Şahin’s name is on the substitute list immediately upon returning to Dortmund!]

***

On January 19, 2013.

Dortmund traveled to SV Werder Bremen’s home ground, Weserstadion, for an away game.

Currently positioned in the mid-table of Bundesliga, SV Werder Bremen was a club with a significant history.

They had played in the Bundesliga for the longest duration and were a club that participated from the inaugural season and were famously known as the “Buns” weaker than Schalke and Leverkusen.

“Hm. The ‘Buns’ huh.”

Is it because my name is Jinho?

It feels oddly familiar.

“Everyone, get your heads straight! Don’t let your guard down!”

Well, aside from my inner familiarity, I wasn’t thinking of letting my guard down.

We resolved to give our best against SV Werder Bremen.

The football is round, and away matches can be tough, so any situation could arise.

Even my namesake pro gamer couldn’t have imagined that his opponent would bunker three times in the semi-finals, leading to an unexpected 20-minute cut in what was supposed to be an epic match.

With that in mind, anything strange could happen when humans and a planetary author are together.

Anyway.

As game time approached, the stadium was filled with spectators.

Peep-peep─!

With the referee’s whistle, the opening match of the Bundesliga second half began.

And just a mere 9 minutes into the game.

I passed to Marco Reus, who was cutting into the center from the left wing.

Boom—!

Marco Reus received my pass and shot with his right foot from the edge of the box, piercing the left bottom corner and shaking the net of SV Werder Bremen.

‘Hmm. Is this the blessing of the bean?’

The assist came too easily.

***

After taking the lead, Dortmund began dominating SV Werder Bremen with a high press.

[Ah! Marco Reus is stopped! A counter from SV Werder Bremen! But Son Jinho regains possession with a clean tackle!]

[Today, Son Jinho looks incredibly light on his feet.]

In particular, Son Jinho’s impressive performance as he easily racked up assists was remarkable.

It was somewhat expected.

No matter how rational a football player is, they are still human before they are pros, so players’ performances are inevitably influenced by emotions.

[Son Jinho shakes off SV Werder Bremen’s pressure!]

As the offense transitioned, SV Werder Bremen’s defensive organization was unraveling.

[Son Jinho with a through pass to the penetrating Lewandowski!!]

Having successfully reclaimed the ball, Son Jinho checked Lewandowski’s position before delivering the pass.

With a smooth first touch, Lewandowski turned the ball and dashed towards the penalty box.

The center-back of SV Werder Bremen pulled him down to stop the foul.

Just as Lewandowski’s balance was disrupted due to the foul from SV Werder Bremen, and the referee was about to blow the whistle.

Lewandowski, still focused despite staggering, swung his foot and managed to shoot.

The impact of the shot wasn’t perfect, but the late reaction from the goalkeeper to Lewandowski’s sudden shot led to the ball slipping past him, scoring a goal.

[Goooaaaallll—!! Robert Lewandowski adds another goal!!]

[After just 15 minutes, Dortmund scores two goals! Silence begins to fall over SV Werder Bremen’s home, Weserstadion!!!]

After Lewandowski’s goal, Dortmund continued to assault SV Werder Bremen.

Mario Götze and substitute Ivan Perišić scored, leading to a dominant 4-0 victory.

***

[Dortmund kicks off the second half in style, achieving a commanding 4-0 victory over SV Werder Bremen away!]

└ Wow;; damn, Dortmund is so strong.

└ Son Jinho << Just doing really well. A football master in all aspects;;

└ Suddenly, that well-oiled Barcelona looks amazing compared to this Dortmund.

└ And Chelsea, who beat that Barcelona and made it to the Champions League finals, also looks impressive.

└ Doctor Man Utd: Doesn’t that Manchester United, who crushed Chelsea in the league, also look amazing?

└ Chelsea from last season and this season are just too different;; By the way, aren’t you guys going to meet Dortmund soon? If you win there, I’ll acknowledge it, lol.

 

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