Chapter 148
Late in the evening, just days before the Champions League final, I returned from an adaptation training session at Wembley Stadium and entered the hotel, waiting for the grace bestowed upon me by Gyeouri.
– Gyeouri: Alright, here’s today’s video.
– Gyeouri: It’s a rare video that was caught by chance, so be thankful!
– Gyeouri: (Haeun’s burping .gif)
– Ho-woo: Oh wow! This is unbelievable! Haeun burping! So cute!
– Gyeouri: Looks adorable, right? Just like my childhood!
– Ho-woo: (Disgusting penguin emoji)
– Gyeouri: ᕙ(╬ಠิ益ಠิ)ง
– Ho-woo: Just kidding, lol! Our Gyeouri was cute as a child too~
We chatted for a while, and soon a smile appeared on my face.
– Gyeouri: Jinho, after the Champions League final, let’s go on a trip after a long time.
I found it impossible to accept Gyeouri’s suggestion of a trip after the Champions League final was over.
– Ho-woo: There’s still the DFB-Pokal final on June 1st.
– Gyeouri: Oh, right.
The DFB-Pokal final of the 12/13 season was scheduled to take place on June 1st, unusually later than the Champions League.
– Gyeouri: Then, let’s go after the Pokal!
– Ho-woo: Got it, lol
As our conversation with Gyeouri came to a close, I suddenly had a strong feeling that I was forgetting something.
– Ho-woo: (Photo of Son Jinho lifting the Meisterschale from last season .jpg)
– Ho-woo: I’ll be back soon with a new trophy.
– Son Heung-min: Phew… Here he goes again.
Hmm.
Wasn’t this what I was supposed to be addressing?
***
[April 30, 2013.]
– Beomdu: Son Jinho, you need to realize. This match isn’t a loss for me or Real Madrid, but a failure of Mourinho for not utilizing the best striker at his disposal. He’s a pathetic manager who has insulted me by mentioning my background… [Read more.]
– Beomdu: And Mourinho once criticized me, saying, “You should be playing for the team, yet your teammates are playing for you!” But that’s not right. On that day, I did my best for the team. My teammates from that game would agree with this. Mourinho often claims I don’t listen to him, but honestly, I don’t understand his tactics. He’s got a lot of issues tactically. Is defense soccer? I don’t think so; it’s scoring that decides the match, not defense. If defense were so important, defenders would be more expensive than strikers… [Read more.]
– Beomdu: Regardless, Son Jinho, I’ve said it many times, you must respect me. I’m a great player who won the Ballon d’Or in the EPL due to my performance at Manchester United in 2008… [Read more.]
[May 5, 2013.]
– Beomdu: Son Jinho, I heard you have a daughter. Congratulations on becoming a father. You’ve succeeded in gaining the joy of life. Children are like gifts from heaven; my son Junior, who has turned three, is quite good at soccer… [Bragging about the child, read more.]
[May 12, 2013.]
– Beomdu: Son Jinho, not reading your messages is inappropriate… [Read more.]
[May 23, 2013.]
– Ho-woo: Oh, Chris, sorry! I just saw your message.
– Beomdu: Son Jinho.
– Beomdu: You could miss a significant contract. It’s best to check messages like this often.
– Ho-woo: Sorry! I’ll check more often from now on.
– Beomdu: Hmmm. Since you’ve apologized, I’ll forgive you then.
– Beomdu: By the way, Son Jinho. The Champions League final is coming up soon, right? To maintain your best condition, you need to ensure you get enough sleep every day… [Do you understand?]
– Beomdu: Son Jinho?
– Beomdu: Hmmm. Did he go to sleep after hearing me?
– Ppuriddu: Well done.
***
As the match between Dortmund and Bayern Munich became known as “Der Klassiker,” the German version of El Clásico, and with the Champions League final approaching.
The mood among English football fans wasn’t great. All the so-called Big Four clubs failed to reach even the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Moreover, the clash between a German club—seen as a rival—at Wembley, which could be called a shrine of English football, was enough to crush the pride of English fans.
“I told you?! You can’t buy the Champions League title with money!”
Their anger naturally directed towards Manchester City, who had recently interrupted the Premier League ecosystem.
While English football fans unleashed their fury towards Manchester City, beneath the surface, there was a strong jealousy towards Manchester City, who welcomed a sugar daddy.
‘Is a sugar daddy not coming to our team?’
‘If only someone other than the shitty Glazers were the owner, we would have raised the Big Ears three more times!’
‘I heard Dortmund’s number 10 is in transfer talks; does our team have money to sign him?’
While English football fans were burning with desire and anger towards the sugar daddy.
The Dortmund players, under the leadership of Jürgen Klopp and Son Jinho, began their motivation before the Champions League final.
Each player was given a candle, and as Jürgen Klopp realized that all the candles had been distributed, he carefully opened his mouth.
“Here’s a small candle. One single candle may seem too small to light the surroundings. But if dozens of these flames gather, they can illuminate the area as it is now. We must rely on each other and fight with trust in the match tomorrow.”
Son Jinho nodded at those familiar phrases. It felt like we should start a campfire right away.
“Now, close your eyes and think. What was the reason you wanted to become a football player?”
Even while Son Jinho desperately held back laughter, Jürgen Klopp’s motivation continued.
“Now, open your eyes and look straight ahead. You will see the path we have walked so far.”
As Jürgen Klopp’s words ended, a video showing the path Dortmund had taken played on the screen, and the players steeled themselves while watching it.
***
Old fans remembering the 96-97 season, when Dortmund first won the Champions League, hoped that Dortmund would recreate that glory, singing songs in jerseys from that very season.
“Ole Ole Ole Nur der BVB! (Only BVB!)”
Dortmund’s anthem echoed throughout Wembley Stadium.
Fans sang the anthem while recalling the past 15 years.
The team endured a dark period after going bankrupt but eventually revived to win the league consecutively.
Fifteen years had changed many things. The boy had now become a young man, and the youth had become a father.
Everything had changed, but the only thing that remained the same was that they cheered with the same passion as back then.
“Unser ganzes Leben, Unser ganzer Stolz (Our whole life, our pride)”
Perhaps thanks to the enthusiastic support from those fans?
“Keep pressing!”
“Don’t even give them a breather!”
Dortmund players stomped across the pitch from the beginning, showcasing a mad level of activity that could be seen as overstepping as they deleted Bayern Munich’s midfield.
“Gut!! Keep pushing!!”
Jürgen Klopp strongly urged his players from the touchline.
Even the center-back Subotic moved high up the pitch to join the build-up, showing a no-back defense strategy.
Dortmund’s relentless attack made Jupp Heynckes calm his players down and directed them to exploit the spaces behind the high lines set by Dortmund.
[After a long-awaited attack, Bayern Munich, Müller passes to the flank. Ribery’s cross!! Mats Hummels clears it with a header!]
[The cleared ball falls to İlkay Gündoğan. Dortmund launches a counter-attack! Gündoğan to Son Jinho! Son Jinho receives the ball, advancing towards Reus! Reus! Reus! Reus with a left foot shot!! Ah!! Neuer blocks it!! Would it have been better if he had run a bit longer before shooting?]
[Yeah, it seems like, considering this is the Champions League final, both teams are rather nervous during decisive moments.]
In the brief span of less than 20 seconds, a fierce battle unfolded across both ends of the pitch, and even the passionately famous fans of the two teams momentarily forgot to cheer, quietly observing the match.
***
“That’s insane.”
Choi Gi-hyun gasped as he watched the Champions League final broadcast.
In a thrilling match that gripped his hands with sweat, the early morning hour of 4 AM didn’t matter.
I couldn’t watch every game like when I was in Germany, but I still kept an eye on my students’ games occasionally.
‘…Are they still my students?’
Watching Son Jinho snagging the ball with a tough tackle among the big guys made him ponder that, but he shook his head.
Even if he hadn’t taught them anything football-wise, I’d still consider myself a pretty decent teacher.
[Son Jinho intercepts! Immediately sends a killer pass to Lewandowski! Lewandowski facing a one-on-one chance!]
While Choi Gi-hyun thought that, Dortmund’s counter-attack continued.
[Whoa!! He blocks it again! Manuel Neuer!!! Showing phenomenal goalkeeping skills!]
└ Wow;; He couldn’t score that;;
└ Why is Lewandowski acting like this today;;
└ For real, he’s wasting too many chances at critical moments;;
On the screen, Manuel Neuer roared after saving Lewandowski’s shot during a one-on-one chance.
***
“Crazy guy just blocked again.”
Son Jinho shook his head, cursing quietly. His gaze fixed on the young guardian of Bayern Munich, roaring after saving Lewandowski’s shot.
Manuel Neuer.
This monstrous goalkeeper, as if possessed by a spirit in this match, had saved Dortmund’s effective shots a remarkable five times.
‘Sigh. Not good.’
Son Jinho’s expression began to harden naturally.
Dortmund’s players had opened their defense to conserve stamina for the second half.
They should have scored first and taken the game easily, but with Neuer’s insane performance, the score remained 0-0, and Dortmund’s players began to grow anxious.
Marcel Schmelzer moved to take a corner, and Son Jinho continued fighting for position in the penalty box.
After confirming Schmelzer’s signal, Son Jinho anticipated the ball coming towards him and prepared.
Marcel Schmelzer curled the corner kick into the penalty box.
But perhaps he hit it wrong, the ball drifted behind Son Jinho.
Son Jinho simultaneously brushed off the Bayern player’s hand pulling his jersey and moved backward.
However, the ball had drifted farther back than Son Jinho had anticipated.
Recalling the painful history of losing in the second half due to a lack of stamina after dominating the first half, Son Jinho leaned back while extending his right foot to let the ball pass over his head.
Normally, he would never take such a risky shot due to injury, but Son Jinho’s body was instinctively moving.
Bam!
Son Jinho’s overhead kick looked clumsy than expected, but he succeeded in making contact with the ball.
The ball brushed past Manuel Neuer’s fingertips, heading into the corner of the goal and found the net.
A moment later.
As he stood up and confirmed that his shot had hit the net, Son Jinho dashed toward the corner flag, roaring.
“Ho-wooouuuuuuu─!”
