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The conversation with Chairman Jeong Do-cheol ended the next day.

When I informed my family about my positive return to the national team, my father-in-law, mother-in-law, and Chairman Hwang Geum-soon were delighted but couldn’t hide their worries.

– Father-in-law: “Jinho, honestly, I’m happy as an FC Korea player, but I hope you don’t return to the national team.”

– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: “Have the media and the association apologized yet?”

– Ho-woo: “They apologized once before.”

– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: “Was that a sincere apology? They just performed a show asking to drop the charges.”

– Ho-woo: “Still, the chairman apologized once again.”

I thought they would welcome me since they were very patriotic, but it seemed the association branding me as a traitor hurt not just me but also my family.

– Cheolmo: “Don’t push yourself too hard; if you sense anything strange from the association, retire immediately.”

– Ho-woo: “Understood, hehe.”

– Cheolmo: “Sigh. I wonder who you take after to be so innocent and kind.”

– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: “It’s definitely not you, so don’t paint your face with gold.”

– Cheolmo: “What?”

– Father-in-law: “Hahahahahaha.”

– Cheolmo: “Gyeouri’s dad, stop smiling and back off.”

– Gyeouri: “Why is it only when we talk about something bad that you become my dad and mom?”

– Gyeouri: “If you keep this up, I’ll be upset!”

– Cheolmo: “Anyway, whatever happens, always remember that we are on your side, Jinho.”

– Gyeouri: “Ignoring me?!”

– Ho-woo: “Yeah, if it doesn’t feel right, there’s no need to go to Manchester United. Don’t worry, hahaha.”

– Gyeouri: (A startled cat reaction.)

– Gyeouri: “What does that mean?!”

With Gyeouri’s explosive reaction, my mother-in-law began teasing as well.

– Cheolmo: “Jinho, you made a good decision. It seems Manchester United isn’t the right fit. What do you think about coming to Chelsea?”

Chairman Hwang Geum-soon joined in.

– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: “Arsenal.”

– Cheolmo: “Chelsea!”

– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: “Arsenal!!”

– Gyeouri: “Invincible Hwangyu!!”

My father-in-law vanished from the group chat without a trace.

– Father-in-law: “Don’t look for me.”

All he left behind was a single private message.

– Cheolmo: “Go to the team that won the last season’s Champions League or go to the team that got knocked out of the group stage.”

For a while, the pouting Gyeouri was left without a mediator.

I cautiously approached the fuming Gyeouri and hugged her.

After a while snuggling in my arms, Gyeouri carefully began to share her thoughts.

“…But staying at Dortmund isn’t too bad either.”

“So, don’t transfer?”

“No, just like mom and dad, I’ll respect your choice. You don’t have to be forced to go to Invincible Hwangyu because of me.”

“Um… can I go to Real Madrid?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“What about Barcelona?”

“Of course. That’s a possibility.”

“What about Arsenal?”

“We can’t afford to take you there.”

“What about Chelsea?”

“You’ll probably pout for about two years.”

“What about Manchester City?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“What about Liverpool?”

“Hey, Son Jinho, don’t cross the line for real.”

Wait…

Is it necessary to get serious when it’s just a joke?

“Hey, is Son Jinho mad?”

“…”

“Is our cute daddy upset?”

After a while of silence, Gyeouri began acting cute.

Did you think I would cool down just because you’re acting cute…

“Do you want to touch my chest?”

“Yes.”

***

[(Reporter’s Perspective) Son Jinho retires from national team, is there no blame for the fans?]

└ The article is too long, can someone summarize it?

└ Article summary: We did publish a ridiculous article, but you guys who got influenced by it are also at fault.

└ Hm. That makes sense, being acutely aware of it.

└ I admit it honestly, but it feels terrible when the media brings it up, haha.

└ (Fans’ Perspective) Isn’t there any responsibility for the unethical media?

└ For real;; It’s disgusting how those who sensationalize articles just to raise views act like this.

[The approaching Revier Derby. Schalke 04 apologizes once again to Son Jinho for last season’s unfortunate incident.]

└ Wow… Schalke 04 handles things excellently. It’s on a different level compared to some groups that don’t even apologize, right?

└ Come to think of it, Schalke was saying they would accept players studying abroad from Korea with the association’s support.

└ ? Didn’t that get canceled due to internal opposition from the association?

└ Since the results of Son Jinho and Son Heung-min were significant, they seem to be proceeding ignoring the opposition.

└ And the internal situation has likely cleared up, so the opposition won’t be severe.

└ What about the local person in charge? I heard that was a major issue.

└ Was it Choi Gi-hyun? << I heard this person was in charge.

└ The one who discovered Son Jinho and Kang Chan?

└ Then that’s trustworthy.

└ Coach Choi Gi-hyun: It's me?

└ What’s up with this guy? Is he an attention seeker?

└ Is this really Coach Choi Gi-hyun?

└ Coach Choi Gi-hyun: Yes. It’s really me.

└ If you’re Choi Gi-hyun, then I’m Son Jinho.

***

October 20, 2012. Bundesliga Round 8.

The day of the match against Schalke had arrived.

As the subway's operations to the opposite side were halted, the police forces were fully deployed around the stadium and its vicinity to prevent any possible collisions.

“Scheiße! Schalke!”

The Dortmund fans visiting the stadium hurled insults and curses towards the Schalke fans.

“Scheiße! Scheiße! Scheiße! BVB!”

The Schalke fans certainly weren’t willing to just take it.

With the support wars of both teams igniting, Signal Iduna Park began to heat up.

[Wow. The atmosphere around Signal Iduna Park is killing it.]

└ End-of-the-century vibes, oh my!

└ So many police;;

[Why is there so much smoke near the stadium?]

└ It’s fireworks.

└ Why aren’t they blocking that?

└ It’s culture.

The Korean fans who came to watch Son Jinho’s match were amazed by the passionate atmosphere of Signal Iduna Park.

[Shayke? Shaisse? What does that mean?]

└ Fucking bastard.

└ You dumbass.

└ ??? Why are you cursing, fucker?

└ You started it, you piece of shit.

└ Didn't I just ask for the meaning?;;

└ Ah;; So Shaisse meant fuck? My bad, my bad;;

└ Lolol, I kindly told them, and now I’m getting cursed back, lmao.

[I just asked the old man sitting next to me if he was Korean, and before he could even hear my answer, he gave me a firecracker yelling Jino is a fantastic player.]

└ Why did you accept that;;

└ Isn’t that fake? Why is a German speaking English?

└ Germans speak English well;;

“Shayke! Schalke!!!”

They say madness is contagious?

Korean fans, now fully integrated with the local fans, began hurling jeers at Schalke.

The stadium announcer started announcing Dortmund’s lineup.

- Soooooon!!

At the moment Son Jinho's name was called out by the announcer.

“Jinoooooooooo─!!”

A noticeably louder cheers erupted from the stadium compared to other players.

[Wow! You have to experience this live! My national pride is exploding!]

The football fans who came to the stadium for the live experience felt elated.

Screeeech─!

As time passed, the first Revier derby of the 12/13 season began with the referee's whistle.

***

“What a fucking A-match.”

Jürgen Klopp muttered an obscenity quietly upon seeing his team struggle against rival Schalke in a home game.

“I’ll definitely have to punch that Löw bastard next time I see him.”

With the Revier derby approaching, Dortmund's key players who were called to the national team returned with minor injuries.

Schmelzer (Germany), Gündogan (Germany), Götze (Germany).

The injuries of these three crucial players were a painful situation for Dortmund, who had a thin squad.

Eventually, Dortmund adopted a three-back formation instead of the usual four-back.

Since there were no players available to fill Schmelzer’s left-back vacancy.

Jürgen Klopp had no choice but to place Sven Bender alongside Hummels and Subotić in a three-back, deploying Ivan Perišić and Łukasz Piszczek as wing-backs.

Although Ivan Perišić initially expressed discomfort about playing as a wing-back rather than a forward, he accepted the coach's proposal after being actively persuaded by Son Jinho, who knew Perišić had hit a second golden age as a wing-back, and he managed to deliver decent performances up until now.

Son Jinho was paired with Sebastian Kehl.

In the forward positions, Marco Reus, Robert Lewandowski, and Kevin Großkreutz were set to play, forming a 3-4-3 formation different from Dortmund’s usual 4-2-3-1.

Due to unfamiliarity with the formation and injury issues with key players, they were being pushed back by Schalke, but fortunately, they still hadn't conceded a goal.

'At least hanging in there is thanks to Jinho.'

While observing the flow of the game for a while, Jürgen Klopp's gaze turned towards Son Jinho, who was indicating the players' positions with his fingers.

'Was the distance from Germany to Korea about 10,000 KM? I’m relieved that Jinho retired from the national team.'

He was a unique boy who had retired from the national team at such a young age.

Despite being in the second division, Jürgen Klopp, who was once a player, understood how difficult it was to refuse the honor of representing one’s country.

Jürgen Klopp had once dreamt of joining Die Mannschaft (the nickname for the German national football team) in his youth.

'That means he must have endured significant pain in Korea…'

As misunderstandings towards Son Jinho grew within Jürgen Klopp, Huntelaar’s shot narrowly missed the crossbar.

In a corner kick situation, Sven Bender's header connected to Huntelaar.

Dortmund barely overcame the crisis, and the game resumed with a goal kick from Roman Weidenfeller.

After Roman Weidenfeller cleared the ball, Sebastian Kehl successfully retrieved it in the course of a contest.

Kehl immediately passed it to Son Jinho.

[Look at Son Jinho spotting space ahead of Ivan Perišić!!!!]

Taking his first touch and embedding his body deeply, Son Jinho protected the ball from Schalke's pressure, and he connected a passing play to the overlapping Ivan Perišić on the left side.

[Ivan Perišić beats Uchida Atsuto! Crosses it in!!]

Ivan Perišić, having breached the flank, sent a cross into the penalty box aimed at Son Jinho.

[Son Jinho!! Son Jinho scores against Schalke!!]

Son Jinho’s header shook Schalke’s net.

“Hoouuuuuuuuuuu─!”

[Son Jinho, who scored, creates unforgettable memories for the fans who have come to visit the stadium!!]

[Whenever the team needs him, there’s always Son Jinho!!]

 

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