---

The match between Dortmund and Juventus, held at Juventus’ home ground Allianz Stadium, concluded with a score of 3-0, and I wrapped up my M.O.M interview.

– You’ve renewed the record for the youngest hat-trick. How do you feel?

“Of course, I’m happy. But more than anything, I’m pleased that the team won by such a large margin.”

– What do you usually think of Jürgen Klopp?

“He always puts in a lot of effort to help me become a better player. He can be a bit demanding, but listening to his advice often leads to better plays.”

Just as the moment of ordinary questions and ordinary answers flowed, the reporter’s expression suddenly changed as he asked.

– Lastly, is there something you’d like to say to the Juventus fans after today’s match?

As the Dortmund press officer moved in to stop the reporter, I raised my hand signaling that I was fine, then answered shortly and wrapped up the interview.

“Class creates elegance.”

The reporter, who had thrown the question in search of a scoop, wore a impressed expression.

It’s just a well-known line; there’s no real reason to be impressed…

Wait, hold on, wasn’t Kingman supposed to show up yet?

***

[Dortmund Doesn’t Smile Despite 3-0 Victory.]

[Jürgen Klopp, Dortmund Coach, Explodes in an Angry Interview. Unable to express due to censorship…]

[Son Jinho Tearfully Critiques Juventus Fans: “Class creates elegance.”]

[Juventus Had No Class, Elegance, or Victory.]

[Shock: Worst Racism Incident at Juventus.]

[UEFA Investigates ‘Racism’; Juventus to Face Severe Penalties?]

[Juventus Faces Public Outcry for Antonio Conte’s Weak Loss.]

[Antonio Conte, Unwilling to Tolerate Criticism, Blasts Fans: “It’s nonsensical to complain about not being able to go to a 100-euro restaurant with just 10 euros.”]

[Juventus Faces No-Crowd Home Match and Ban on Away Match Support due to UEFA Penalties.]

[Juventus Appeals UEFA Sanctions.]

[UEFA Fines Dortmund 8000 Euros (10 million won) for Fireworks Incident.]

[Dortmund’s Michael Zorc: “I will gladly contribute to a league free of racism.”]

[As public outcry against Dortmund fans grows regarding fireworks, “It was a purifying flame to burn the sins of white people.”]

[The Dortmund Ultras, who naturally forewarned the use of fireworks, claim, “We’ll show what the hot support passion of Germans is at Signal Iduna Park.”]

[“Youngest Hat-Trick” Son Jinho Scores Full Marks! BBC Sports Presenter Gary Lineker: “It was a fantastic performance.”]

[After the match, a brawl breaks out.]

[The Dortmund Ultras, who won the brawl, assert, “It’s a historical fact that Italians can’t handle war.”]

[When a Japanese reporter points out that they were allies during the world wars, “That’s why ‘we’ lost.”]

└ LOL, Germany, Italy, and Japan’s war-criminal trinity is insane! Hahaha

└ As expected, battle is in the German blood! LOL

[Cristiano Ronaldo Posts on SNS Against Racism: “All forms of discrimination are wrong.”]

└ Wow… Truly, there’s no one like Shin-do-hyung.

└ I acknowledge him as an honorary Korean!

└ Just merely a Han-bandu…

└ It’s patriotic too…

└ It’s King-God too.

[Lionel Messi Performs Ceremony Against Racism.]

└ Awww T-T, Messi, who used to squint, has grown this much…

└ No, that wasn’t meant for Asians.

└ By the way, why is there a patriotic title for Ronaldo but not for Messi?

└ It just doesn’t fit.

└ Doesn’t it suit the patriotic spirit?

└ How about “Ku-todaezang” ? Hahaha

└ Boring.

└ I found it funny though.

***

Because of the phrases I left during the interview, I instantly became a wise youth, finally concluding all schedules and heading home.

After starting with the match against SC Freiburg, I became a weekend couple I had no desire to be due to back-to-back away games.

“Son Jinho!!”

Han Gyeouri ran in and hugged me.

“Did you have a good trip?! You weren’t hurt, were you?”

“Yeah, I’m fine, don’t worry.”

Checking if I was hurt, Han Gyeouri let out a sigh of relief after inspecting my body.

I patted her head, and we spent the day together.

-Today you’ll get a break. Spend happy time with your family.

Thanks to Jürgen Klopp giving us players a short break.

Since I’m only human and not a machine, mental fatigue is inevitable, so proper rest was definitely needed.

I didn’t do anything special with Gyeouri, but just having a conversation seemed to instantly recharge my tired mind.

I wanted to spend more time with her after today, but with the season ending, the schedule had become packed.

Just for the remaining schedule, there’s a Bundesliga match against Augsburg on April 6, and on April 9, there’s a Champions League quarterfinal second leg match against Juventus.

Well, thankfully both matches are at home.

“Oh! Ddoldol just kicked because he’s happy to see Dad!”

As I put my ear on Gyeouri’s belly, interestingly, I could hear the sound of a kick.

Is it because a child is about to be born soon? Lately, the desire to retire has been creeping in.

It seems like lifting the Big Ear at Manchester United will also be a matter to consider retirement.

The dream I envisioned last life of overseas advancement has already been sufficiently fulfilled. I was selected as the World Best as the first in Asia and lifted countless titles such as the Bundesliga’s assist king and VDV Player of the Year.

Ballon d’Or? It would be nice to receive it, but I don’t really mind if I don’t. I didn’t want to attach too much significance to it.

My goal is to happily live with Gyeouri, not to become the world’s best player.

“Hm. Still, retiring before 30 seems a bit off….”

Well, that’s something to think about later.

After all, who knows if I can lift the Big Ear at Manchester United.

Woooh─!

While I was embodying an employee wanting to quit, I received a message from the duo from Augsburg.

***

– Cha Dongwon: Hey, are you doing okay, makdungi?

– Gu Jachil: Seriously, there are too many people who do racism. You might handle it well, but still, don’t stress out too much. If it’s tough, definitely consider consulting.

– Cha Dongwon: Like Jachil said, consulting is good. By the way, don’t you need a break for the next match?

– Ho-woo: Wow. I was watching what you said. Was that what you all wanted to say?

– Cha Dongwon: No, it’s not that I’m scared to meet you as opponents, LOL I’m just worried.

– Gu Jachil: Sure, sure, just rest when you need to.

– Ki Sung-yueng: Hey, Dongwon, are you born in the 90s?

– Cha Dongwon: Suddenly? Yes, I was born in ‘91.

– Ho-woo: What? You’re just a year older than Hongmin-hyung?

– Ho-woo: Wow. That was the most shocking thing I’ve heard this year.

– Cha Dongwon: ???

– Cha Dongwon: What does that mean?

– Cha Dongwon: Makdungi??

– Ki Sung-yueng: See, 1 hasn’t disappeared, LOL

– Ki Sung-yueng: Jinho LOL makes quick entries and exits, LOL

– Lee Cheong-ryong: Hahahahahaha

***

With the match against Augsburg approaching, we could not afford to overexert ourselves in training, so light recovery training was conducted.

“Jino, don’t forget the assist this time.”

Roberto Lewandowski casually placed me in a headlock, and I tapped his arm in reply.

“Just one assist, right?”

“Hey, at least give me two. By the way, I’m in the running for the top scorer; are you not going to help? You might as well make it a hat-trick assist.”

As I replied that I’ll see how the situation goes, Lewandowski lightly nudged my shoulder while smiling and headed off.

Thinking back, it seems I’ve gotten quite close to Lewandowski compared to the early season.

‘When did we get close…’

Probably after the Schalke match where we faced racism, but I’m not exactly sure.

Anyway, as recovery training continued, Jürgen Klopp, who was monitoring the players’ conditions, decided to rotate the team for the match against Augsburg.

He decided to give rest to Marco Reus and Mario Götze, who had been frequently playing full-time and were complaining of fatigue.

And on match day, when the starting lineup was revealed, it expressed the expectations of South Korean football fans.

[Dortmund vs Augsburg. The Korean Derby in Bundesliga!]

└ Wow, LOL three Koreans in one match!

└ Gu Jachil and Cha Dongwon are starting too, whoa!

└ I thought they’d give our hyung a break.

└ Looks like he was in good condition.

└ But honestly, it feels like Dortmund is definitely going to win this match.

└ The soccer ball is round, so saying that Dortmund will definitely win is LOL!

└ Do you think the World Best is just some trivial thing!?

└ That’s the popularity vote you guys are talking about, fools.

└ Nope, ever since my brother won, the World Best has become very professional, fair, and authoritative! LOL

 

---