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Dortmund continued to rack up points without defeat even after bombing SV Werder Bremen.

[Dortmund crushes FC Nürnberg 2-0 at home.]

[Son Jinho’s explosive performance! Dortmund secures a 3-1 victory away against Bayer Leverkusen.]

However… the ranking still remained at 2nd.

This was something unavoidable.

After all, can humans defeat the forces of nature?

[Fear us! The German masters Bayern Munich have returned!]

[Multi-goal explosion! Mario Mandzukic leads the team to victory!]

While Dortmund was stacking points, the natural disaster known as Bayern Munich also continued to rack up points without a loss.

[Despite Dortmund’s unbeaten run, they are now 4 points behind Bayern Munich….]

[Dortmund’s championship odds are dwindling; this season Bayern Munich is on a different level!]

└ Wow. I didn’t expect to see such an intense championship race in the Bundesliga, lol.

└ For real, haha, it’s legendary.

A bizarre situation where Dortmund had not lost yet their points had widened.

“Ha. Those crazy Bayern guys don’t want to lose.”

Heavenly horse Jürgen Klopp lightly shook his head at Bayern Munich’s dominating performance and continued.

“Well… at this rate, we have no choice but to go all-in for the Champions League.”

I nodded at Jürgen Klopp’s surprisingly calm voice.

This season, Jürgen Klopp and Dortmund’s goal was the Champions League.

‘Wasn’t the first and last Champions League victory in the 96/97 season?’

Compared to winning the Bundesliga for two consecutive years, Dortmund’s first and last Champions League victory was indeed in the 96/97 season.

Having to go back a whopping 16 years, the longing of Dortmund fans for the Champions League title was immense.

If possible, it would be nice to record Treble or Double, but if that seems unlikely, focusing on the Champions League as Jürgen said would be the right choice.

Given the tactical characteristics that drained energy, the probability of collapsing in the second half was high unless choices and focus were made.

“So Jinho. I’m thinking of giving you a rest in the upcoming home game against Hamburg.”

Jürgen Klopp said with a smile while handing me water.

Hmm.

I felt a bit uneasy given that the opponent I was missing was a beekeeper, but it was a home game, so it should be fine, right?

‘Well… as Jürgen said, the Champions League takes priority.’

I nodded as I accepted the water Jürgen Klopp handed me.

“Wise coach.”

***

– Son Heung-min: Son Jinho, you’re dead.

– Ki Sung-yueng: Why is he acting like that?

– Lee Cheong-ryong: Hey. Son Heung-min. Don’t bully our youngest.

– Son Heung-min: ;;; I’m part of the youngest line too;;;

– Lee Cheong-ryong: You’re an adult now.

– Lee Cheong-ryong: Our Jinho is just a kid who can’t even drink.

– Ho-woo: Waaah!

– Lee Cheong-ryong: …??

– Kang Chan: Son Jinho, you crazy kid, hahahaha!

– Lee Cheong-ryong: Wow, haha, I was so surprised I couldn’t speak.

– Ki Sung-yueng: Anyway, what’s up with Hongmin suddenly?

– Son Heung-min: (Image of the Ronaldo signature that says ‘no titles’ sent by Son Jinho.jpg)

– Son Heung-min: Ha. Seriously.

– Ho-woo: (Image of Son Jinho raising a trophy.jpg)

– Ho-woo: Hyung can also lift trophies.

– Lee Cheong-ryong: hahahahahaha

– Ki Sung-yueng: hahahahahahaha

– Ki Sung-yueng: Wow. Jinho is also ridiculous, hahaha!

– Ki Sung-yueng: Seriously, it’s getting so annoying.

***

February 10, 2013.

Having been excluded from the lineup for the Champions League match against Manchester United, I sighed upon seeing the score captured on the broadcast.

[Dortmund 1 : 3 Hamburg.]

Dortmund was taken by surprise from the very start thanks to a strike from Son Heung-min, and they struggled throughout the match.

The now awakened beekeeper, Son Heung-min, netted an additional goal, sealing the win.

Just before the match ended, Lewandowski managed to score a consolation goal, but the battle was already lost.

Shortly after the match resumed, the referee blew the final whistle. The players from Hamburg reveled in the joy of victory.

This was the moment when Dortmund, in a fierce title competition against Bayern Munich, had their ankles grabbed by Hamburg.

***

[Beekeeper Son Heung-min? Scores multiple goals against Dortmund, leading his team to victory!]

└ No… Hongmin, I cheered for you, but at this timing…

└ Best case scenario would have been Hongmin scoring multiple goals while Dortmund wins, damn.

[Jurgen Klopp, showing a bittersweet smile after a 4-2 defeat.]

└ Why was my brother left out?

└ Because the Champions League match is coming up soon, he’s managing your stamina, idiot.

└ Just take care of stamina normally, but why leave him out in the Korean Derby?

└ Whether he plays or not, people still whine.

[Jurgen Klopp expressed regret over Son Jinho’s exclusion from the lineup, saying, ‘A painful mistake, but I have no regrets.’]

└ Kachk! Damn it, this idiot manager.

└ Wow, haha, just one lost match and the manager is getting criticized.

└ I’m glad a lot of fans have come in thanks to Son Jinho, but it’s really annoying every time this happens.

└ Fortunately, my brother not playing for the national team makes it less bad.

└ Look at Arsenal. People are cursing Wenger for not playing Park Juyong.

[Dortmund caught with their ankles, as Bayern Munich moves ahead! Crush Schalke04 4-0!]

└ Ugh! Are the other teams a points vending machine? Bayern Munich can’t even get a grip.

└ But why are Schalke fans so happy despite losing?

└ Because they dumped on their rival Dortmund.

└ It was a win-win match, huh?

└ Isn’t this match-fixing?

└ Schalke is also in the Champions League race, lol, they just got hammered by Munich.

└ You idiots, if you’re gonna fix matches, lose by one or two goals, who loses 4-0? Haha.

└ “Idiot?”

└ It’s a derogatory term for soccer fans that came in because of my brother’s performance. Stone (Dortmund) (Big) head = Idiot.

***

Though they suffered a crushing defeat against Hamburg and the beekeeper, the atmosphere in the Dortmund team wasn’t as bad as expected.

Was it because the players had relieved their burdens from the title race?

Rather, the mood seemed softer and better than before the defeat.

Apparently, quite a few players felt more pressure than expected in the fierce championship race with Bayern.

While some were clenching their teeth to win the competition against Bayern Munich.

Well, not everyone can feel the same way.

Anyway, two days before the Champions League match against Manchester United.

“Jinho!”

“Ugh!”

“Happy birthday, kid!”

“Thanks!”

“How about a birthday party?”

“Since the Champions League match is coming up, it feels a bit off to have a party, so I just wanted to spend time with family.”

I legally became an adult at last.

“Jinho! Congratulations!”

“Thank you!”

“Jinho! Happy birthday! And thank you for coming to Dortmund!”

“Thank you for always cheering for me at the matches!”

After receiving countless birthday wishes from Dortmund staff and fans, I happily returned home.

“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you~ dear Son Jinho! Happy birthday to you!”

I saw Han Gyeouri practicing the birthday song.

***

[Upcoming Champions League, the clash of rising star Jürgen Klopp and legend Alex Ferguson!]

[Jürgen Klopp shows respect to Ferguson. “Ferguson? One of the managers I respect the most.”]

[Alex Ferguson names Son Jinho as a player to watch, “A threatening player.”]

[Park Jisong vs Son Jinho, will the Korean Derby take place in the Champions League?]

[Now an adult, where will Son Jinho head next?]

[Not only skills, but connections that are world-class? Son Jinho receives birthday wishes from Ronaldo and Messi!]

└ Wow, damn that’s insane.

└ A Korean player is friends with Messi and Ronaldo, whoa!!

└ National pride is through the roof.

└ But Ronaldo didn’t like the message from Messi. They’re really friendly, right?

└ Must be a mistake.

***

– Subin: Son Jinho.

– Subin: Why didn’t you like my birthday wish?

– Ho-woo: You should respect me.

– Subin: …Why are you stealing my lines?

– Subin: Son Jinho.

– Ho-woo: I liked it just now.

– Subin: You…

– Subin: Hmm.

– Subin: It’s a bit late, but I’ll be the bigger person and let it slide.

***

The day after I turned 18.

[Son Jinho shows loyalty by signing a professional contract with Dortmund, “Dortmund is my home team. I don’t know what the future holds, but I want to leave as much transfer fee as possible even if I have to leave.”]

As discussed beforehand, I officially signed a professional contract with Dortmund.

The contract period is 3 years, and Dortmund promised to send me to Manchester if an offer exceeding 80 billion won comes through.

[Son Jinho proudly ranks 1st among the 30 most valuable players under 21 in the world.]

An astronomical transfer fee of 80 billion was placed on a mere 18-year-old prospect.

But no one thought the amount was excessive.

Having been selected as the World Best at the age of 17 and winning the Bundesliga Player of the Year award, Dortmund’s director Michael Zorc and agent Mino Raiola expected the transfer fee to comfortably exceed 80 billion.

And so, when preparations for the transfer to Manchester United were all completed.

A problem arose.

– Mino Raiola: Jinho, perhaps because of the increased transfer fee, Manchester United is showing reluctance towards the transfer.

Manchester United hesitated at the unexpectedly high transfer fee.

‘It’s a future matter, but a team that bought a spinning top for 140 billion thinks my transfer fee of 80 billion is too high!’

It seemed that education was needed in the upcoming Champions League match against Manchester United.

 

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