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“You’ll never walk alone!”

Visiting Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund fans welcomed Manchester United players and fans by igniting flares even before the game kicked off.

Did the Dortmund fans’ warm welcome with flares somehow touch the players of Manchester United?

Jisong, who had seen it all, looked perplexed and asked,

“Um… Jinho, is it okay to light flares in the Bundesliga?”

Jisong chuckled, realizing the absurdity of his own question.

Well, I could understand him being bewildered.

I too took a while to adapt at first.

“No, that’s against the rules, right? They’ll probably get fined.”

I answered Jisong with a kind expression.

Indeed, according to Bundesliga regulations, igniting flares was a violation that would incur a penalty.

“But why doesn’t the club stop them from lighting flares?”

To Jisong, who asked innocently, I offered some life wisdom.

“Bro.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you think people would stop just because they’re told not to?”

“If they’re told not to, they should refrain. Isn’t that obvious?”

“Didn’t the government tell you not to watch adult videos?”

“….”

“You see? If you say not to do something, people want to do it even more. Besides, in a way, it’s culture, bro.”

The German Football Association, the clubs, and all German football fans were already aware that it was impossible to prevent flare usage.

For German football fans, flares represented a continuation of traditional culture.

Their intention behind lighting flares was a beautiful sentiment of carrying on the heritage of ancient civilizations.

“Hm… Perhaps Signal Iduna Park is like a hanok village where history and tradition are preserved?”

In the future, in an effort to preserve traditional culture, they might even try to create a regulated flare that would legalize lighting flares inside stadiums.

But… that bill couldn’t pass due to issues surrounding the Bundesliga development fund (fines).

Instead, like the talk of raising cigarette prices to promote public health, the German Football Association announced plans to increase fines for flares to secure stable match viewing in the Bundesliga.

“People are pretty much the same everywhere.”

Well, anyway. This round of Bundesliga development funds (fines) would be handed over to UEFA rather than the German Football Association.

***

As game time approached, players started entering the stadium. The Champions League theme echoed through the air, and in the Südtribüne, the proud tapestry unfolded.

With blazing yellow flares and a skull-shaped card section.

And the viewers watching this in real-time were astonished.

[2012/2013 UEFA Champions League. Dortmund vs Manchester United Round of 16 second leg! Set to take place at Dortmund’s home, Signal Iduna Park.]

└ Hey;; shouldn’t the stadium manager stop that?

└ Even if they try to stop it, it wouldn’t work….

While Premier League fans were horrified by the ambiance of Signal Iduna Park.

[Even before the match has started, Dortmund fans are showing incredible support.]

[Indeed. Dortmund’s flares are burning brightly even before the kickoff! It seems like they ignited a bit earlier today.]

The commentators and Bundesliga fans wore expressions that said they were so familiar with it they were almost glad.

[If you’re not used to watching Bundesliga matches, this may be shocking, but it’s a very common sight in Bundesliga.]

└ Wow… Starting with a bang and already incurring penalties in the penalty league, lol.

└ Seriously, every time I watch, it’s like a spectacle.

└ Are they really not going to get penalized?

└ They’ll pay a fine.

└ You know there are days when there’s a long list of clubs receiving penalties on the German Football Association website. If you check that, it’s entirely due to flares, lol.

As netizens laughed and chatted, the Champions League theme wrapped up.

[Jinaid Çakır’s whistle signals the start of the game.]

***

With the referee’s whistle, the Champions League Round of 16 second leg between Dortmund and Manchester United kicked off at Dortmund’s home ground, Signal Iduna Park.

“Phew. This is going to be tough.”

Alex Ferguson, looking at the still blazing Signal Iduna Park, anticipated a challenging match.

After losing the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 3-1 at their home turf, Old Trafford.

Manchester United needed to score three goals or more to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals.

Despite it being an away game, Alex Ferguson brought quite an aggressive football tactic.

Manchester United’s formation was 4-2-3-1.

Van Persie played as striker, while Wayne Rooney dropped slightly back to take up the roles of attacking midfielder and shadow striker.

On the flanks were the speedy Luis Nani and Ryan Giggs, enhancing the sharpness of counterattacks.

In the midfield were Park Jisong and Michael Carrick.

– Ji! Your role is to keep a close watch on Jinho!

Having not started for a long time, Park Jisong diligently followed Son Jinho to fulfill the role Alex Ferguson had assigned to him.

[What an emotionally overwhelming moment. The legendary Park Jisong of South Korean football! And the rising star, Son Jinho, are facing each other in the Champions League!!]

[İlkay Gündoğan’s pass seems weaker than expected! Ah! Park Jisong intercepts the ball!]

Then, in the 15th minute of the first half, a pass miss occurred from İlkay Gündoğan.

Park Jisong successfully intercepted just before the ball reached Son Jinho.

Park Jisong then immediately passed to Ryan Giggs positioned at the side.

Though not as fast as in his prime, Ryan Giggs still possessed a threatening speed as he dashed down the touchline.

We were witnessing the quickly executing Manchester United’s unique fast counterattack, something unseen since David Moyes.

Ryan Giggs’ running cross sliced through Dortmund’s defense, perfectly reaching Van Persie, but Mats Hummels cleared it just before it reached Van Persie.

The ball cleared by Hummels then headed towards Son Jinho, who hadn’t played central midfielder for a while.

“Jino! Pass!”

Mario Götze, on the field as an attacking midfielder, raised his hand signaling for a pass, while Park Jisong pressed in quickly to apply pressure.

“Return!”

With a one-two pass with İlkay Gündoğan, Son Jinho easily evaded Park Jisong’s pressure.

Before Park Jisong could reapply pressure, he passed to Mario Götze.

Thud.

‘Oh, pressure is coming from the left.’

Son Jinho’s pass, delivered with the outside of his right foot, allowed Mario Götze to orient his first touch towards the right direction that Son Jinho had provided.

[Mario Götze! With his first touch, he easily slips past Michael Carrick!]

With Mario Götze slipping past Michael Carrick, he saw the once-stalwart duo who shared glory with Manchester United, now starting to crumble like the Berlin Wall.

Just as Mario Götze was about to attempt a middle-range shot.

“Give me the ball!”

Handing off to Son Jinho, who had made his way up.

[Mario Götze! He sees Son Jinho, who has moved up around the penalty box!]

Mario Götze’s pass headed towards Son Jinho.

Catching eyes with Son Jinho, Kevin Großkreutz swiftly charged into the half-space between center back Ferdinand and right back Rafael.

[Son Jinho!! Is he shooting!?! No! A lob pass from Son Jinho!]

Son Jinho used the direct outside of his right foot to gently pass to the space in front of Kevin Großkreutz.

Receiving the pass, rather than attempting a shot, Kevin Großkreutz delivered a cutback pass to the towering Lewandowski in the penalty box.

Nemanja Vidić leaned in to block Lewandowski’s shot.

[Hits the goalpost!!! Ah! Dortmund’s luck is not on their side!]

Lewandowski’s shot crashed into the goalpost.

The Dortmund fans who had erupted in cheers now let out sighs of disappointment, while the Manchester United fans breathed a sigh of relief.

Despite the sharp counter from Dortmund, Manchester United’s offensive intent did not falter.

“Whatever happens, let’s keep pressing! Even if this game ends, it’s still over!”

Thanks to the veterans like Ferdinand and Vidić, who kept the spirits high.

***

The match between Dortmund and Manchester United raged fiercely.

As the first half drew to a close.

“Ugh! Stop running already!!”

Park Jisong’s voice echoed towards Son Jinho, who was running around like a dog in the snow.

 

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