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The Champions League semifinals matchup between Real Madrid and Dortmund was set, and time flew by quickly.

[Dortmund, guaranteeing rest for the starters, eked out a 2-0 win against Greuther Fürth.]

└ Why didn’t Son Jinho play? Is he injured?

└ They gave rest to the starters, read the article title, you fool!

Dortmund started a hectic schedule with an away game against bottom-ranked Greuther Fürth.

[In one week, Dortmund will face VfL Wolfsburg, Mainz, and Real Madrid.]

└ Wow. Isn’t the schedule too tight?

└ What the hell, matches every three days?;;

Returning from the away match against Greuther Fürth, Dortmund fielded all their starters in the DFB Pokal semifinals against VfL Wolfsburg a few days later and put on an impressive display of firepower to reach the finals.

“Berlin! Berlin! Wir fahren nach Berlin!”

With a commanding score of 7-1, Dortmund dominated Wolfsburg, receiving rave reviews from the media.

[Dortmund reaches the Pokal final with a 7-1 victory at home!]

[Robert Lewandowski’s insane scoring ability! Leading the team to victory with a hat trick!]

[Son Jinho assisting Lewandowski’s hat trick. Will he achieve the assist king title – Bundesliga, Pokal, Champions League?]

Riding high on momentum, Dortmund hosted Mainz 05, scoring just 32 seconds into the match through Marco Reus, securing a pleasing victory, and headed to Spain for the first leg of the Champions League semifinals against Real Madrid.

[Dortmund heading to Santiago Bernabéu for the first leg of the Champions League semifinals against Real Madrid.]

[Atletico Madrid providing a training ground for Dortmund to face their ‘rival’ Real Madrid.]

During the training session provided by Atletico Madrid for the upcoming showdown against Real Madrid…

[‘German football prodigy’ Mario Götze officially transfers to Bayern Munich.]

[Bayern Munich triggers buyout for Mario Götze!]

[Bayern Munich president Hoeness states, “Mario Götze is an outstanding player.”]

The news of Mario Götze’s transfer to Bayern Munich shocked Germany.

German media outlets, starting with Bild and Kicker, were flooded with reports of Mario Götze’s transfer news.

[Dortmund in trouble? Will Götze’s transfer disrupt team chemistry?]

Contrary to concerns that Götze’s transfer news might shake team chemistry…

“Whatever. It’s something everyone knew about.”

“Right.”

Dortmund’s team chemistry remained unshaken.

After all, the Dortmund players were somewhat aware of Götze’s potential departure.

“Was it around the time before the match against Greuther Fürth?”

Mario Götze had mentioned to the players that he might be transferring.

Although he didn’t specify a team, most players had a hunch it was Bayern Munich.

For German players preferring domestic leagues, Bayern Munich was the dream club.

“Mario.”

“Jinho.”

“You’ll do well at that team.”

“Uh? I didn’t say which team yet?”

“Oh. Is that so? By the way, are there any sushi places down in Southern Germany?”

….

Dortmund’s players respected Mario Götze’s decision to transfer and wished him good luck for his future.

However, they never expected the transfer rumors to surface right before the matches.

“That senile old man Hoeness! Bringing this transfer rumor up just two days before the match? It sounds like he wants to sacrifice Götze as a scapegoat!”

Upon hearing the news, players expressed their anger towards President Hoeness.

When this news reaches Dortmund fans, there will undoubtedly be immense criticism towards Mario Götze.

No fan likes to see a homegrown player stirring up transfer rumors and leaving mid-season.

The players grimaced at the sight of someone seemingly sacrificing a player to cover up their own misdeeds.

“Hm. What is this? Doesn’t this feel a bit familiar?”

Of course, I felt something was familiar, though.

By the way, isn’t it ‘common sense’ to sacrifice star players to hide the corruption of those in high places?

“Hm. Is this a cultural difference?”

Among the players who burst into extreme anger, I nodded awkwardly.

Anyway, Dortmund’s board wouldn’t want to sell Mario Götze to Bayern Munich, who shatters team chemistry just days before a match, but since Bayern paid his buyout clause, they had no choice.

[President Hans-Joachim Watzke comments on Götze’s transfer, “It’s disappointing, but it’s a fact that both sides have agreed to the contract.”]

└ I thought he would fling curses but surprisingly dignified response, huh?

└ Dortmund owes a debt to Bayern Munich, so they can’t help it.

└ Debt?

└ When they nearly went bankrupt, Bayern lent them money interest-free.

└ What the hell, even if they repaid, wouldn’t that be the end of it?

└ I believe they still haven’t repaid the money.

Dortmund, with a debt to Bayern Munich, lightly expressed their regrets about the transfer rumors, but this transfer incident wasn’t going to end just because Dortmund kept silent.

[Mainz owner Harald Strunz unleashing severe criticism, “This transfer rumor stinks so badly it makes me nauseous.”]

[Eintracht Frankfurt president Heribert Bruchhagen, “Even if I worked at Bayern, I would have signed Götze. But I can’t help but think of Hoeness.”]

It’s an unwritten rule not to interfere with transfers from other teams, but regarding this matter, exceptions seemed to apply.

[Werder Bremen’s director Thomas Eichin, “This is really f***ed up. Hoeness is dirtying German football right now!”]

Most clubs in the Bundesliga started to fiercely criticize Bayern Munich, breaking the unwritten rules.

***

[Simultaneously with the news of Hoeness’s embezzlement, Mario Götze’s transfer rumors emerged. Is it really a coincidence?]

[Uli Hoeness and Bayern Munich throwing filth into German football.]

[Jürgen Klopp, Dortmund’s manager, “Götze didn’t do anything against the rules. We can’t block a player’s dream.”]

[Jürgen Klopp urges Dortmund fans to refrain from excessive criticism towards Götze. “We have important matches ahead, and Götze is still a Dortmund player. I hope for support rather than criticism.”]

[Mourinho, confident of winning at home, says, ‘We will win.’]

[Mourinho remains tight-lipped about the crisis at Dortmund. ‘I have nothing to say about that incident.’]

[Cristiano Ronaldo, ‘Son Jinho betrayed me.’]

└ What now?

└ Did he say Messi is the best player?

[Is Ronaldo sulking? “Since Son Jinho doesn’t respect me, I won’t respect Son Jinho either.”]

[Son Jinho walks past Ronaldo’s interview, smiling without saying a word.]

***

On the day of the first leg of the Champions League semifinals between Real Madrid and Dortmund.

Santiago Bernabéu, home of Real Madrid, was packed with Madridistas.

Jürgen Klopp anticipated a tough match, and Dortmund came out with a defensive-heavy strategy.

As the game commenced, Real Madrid’s onslaught began.

Playing as an attacking midfielder, Mesut Özil received Alonso’s pass and delivered an early cross from the right flank.

“Puta Madre!”

Cristiano Ronaldo’s header narrowly missed the goalpost.

Ronaldo muttered a curse in disappointment.

While Ronaldo was regretting his miss.

The game resumed with a goal kick from Roman Weidenfeller, and Dortmund attempted to build an attack, but Mario Götze was dispossessed by Sami Khedira, resulting in a counterattack for Real Madrid.

Khedira’s pass went to Alonso, who then sent a long ball forward.

Dunk─!

Successfully shrugging off Subotic with a brilliant first touch was Higuain.

“Pass!”

On the flank, Ronaldo demanded a pass, but Higuain opted for a shot instead.

Bang─!

The shot from Gonzalo Higuain, known for his struggles in major matches, went straight at the goalkeeper, and Roman Weidenfeller comfortably made the save.

[Again! Again! He saves it! Roman Weidenfeller!]

With continued stellar performances from Roman Weidenfeller, the score remained balanced at 0-0 until the equilibrium was disrupted in Dortmund’s defensive line.

In the 35th minute of the first half, Sergio Ramos intercepted Marco Reus’s dribble with a tackle and immediately passed it to Di Maria.

Shedding Dortmund’s pressure on the right flank, Ángel Di Maria attempted a cross into the penalty box.

Di Maria’s cross aimed at Ronaldo accurately finds its target.

Though Mats Hummels tried to block Ronaldo, Ronaldo jumped higher than Hummels by a head and succeeded in shaking the Dortmund net.

With a clean header, Ronaldo opened the scoring.

“Siuuuuuuu─!”

He rushed toward the corner flag to celebrate with a “Hoo” celebration.

And with a wink––.

He winked at Son Jinho.

 

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