LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 227
[Manchester United achieves back-to-back league titles.]
[The rulers of the Premier League, Man U!]
[When did Man U become a strong team? The past 30 years with Ferguson. Working title: Documentary on Ferguson and Man U is in the works.]
After the match against Sunderland ended.
“Yes. Right now, in the city of Manchester, the heat is so intense that it’s hard to keep your eyes open. The residents of Manchester are all out on the streets celebrating the victory. Let’s check in with some locals….”
“Fire, it’s a fire!!!”
While Manchester was engulfed in a festive atmosphere thanks to United’s victory.
We immediately prepared for the next match.
This season, United’s goal was not just to win the league.
However, with the upcoming March A matches causing our veteran player (the old-timer Ronaldo) to be unavailable,
young players began to emerge wanting to get lost in the festival atmosphere.
“Stand up straight, Januzaj. Where do you think you’re going?”
“They say there’s a victory celebration party downtown….”
“Huh, a party? Paaaaaarty?”
Fortunately, the veterans, myself included, who weren’t called up for the national team managed to keep the young ones in check and guide them correctly.
It’s rather surprising, but I think Man U should be grateful to me.
After all, I was voluntarily taking care of the promising youngsters.
To put it in Ronaldo’s style.
-Manchester United, you should respect me. I’ve remodeled the youngsters from the bone for the infinite development of Man U, and I even brought Jude Bellingham. I’m a legend of Man U itself. If you don’t raise my wage as a sign of respect… [Read more.]
I think that sums it up well.
Anyway.
“Money isn’t important for a footballer.”
“But Jino is the highest-paid player at the club!”
“…A rotation player talking back?”
While I was busy imparting some mental education to the youngsters,
[Euro qualifiers, England facing Lithuania.]
[England manager Roy Hodgson: “We will give our best without complacency.”]
The 2016 Euro qualifiers officially started.
[England bombards Lithuania.]
[Wayne Rooney: “Jino’s addition gives wings to England.”]
[Multi-goal Wayne Rooney in M.O.M interview: “…2016 Euro victory? I can see the possibilities.”]
Now England, which has become my home country, defeated Lithuania 4-0.
Later, Harry Kane’s national team debut, who would later be legendary for his trophy-less streak in world football, also took place.
[Harry Kane scores just 76 seconds after being subbed in for his national team debut.]
He made his mark by scoring immediately upon entering the field in the 73rd minute against Lithuania, leaving an impression on England fans.
And on April 1.
[England draws against Italy at Juventus Stadium.]
The England national team successfully drew in their away game against Italy.
For reference, during the same period, Korea also played an A match.
Thanks to Gi-hyun Choi’s reform, a systematic system was established, and the Korean national team, following the procedures outlined by the system, performed well, winning the game.
[South Korea crushes Uzbekistan with a score of 4-1.]
└ Pya lol Indeed, football is about the manager’s play.
└ If only Son Jinho had been here, we would have won the Asian Cup.
└ If we had just eliminated one Ballon d’Or player, and normalized the Football Association, Korea would surely be a god of investment, right?
└ Damn, they’re cutting off a limb and declaring surgery successful; is this dude crazy?
└ Anyway, we’re alive, right?
After the A matches concluded, we moved on to the league games.
With Manchester United having secured early triumph, old man Ferguson officially kicked the rotation into gear for the young players’ growth.
The rotation from the old man not only accelerated the growth of the youngsters but also aimed to protect some fragile players from injuries.
For Manchester United to achieve treble (the season), it was crucial to manage the health of Robin van Persie, famously known as Van Persie.
[Premier League Round 31, Manchester United draws while rotating players.]
Regardless, with Ferguson operating the rotation, he substituted Marcus Rashford in for Robin van Persie.
Marcus Rashford started in the league match and showcased his talent.
Being a novice, there were still many awkward moments.
[Premier League Round 32, Marcus Rashford nets his 5th goal, leading to a United victory.]
Rashford utilized his advantage of speedy pace and excellent physicality to score successfully.
‘Ah. He’s not passing from over there.’
Of course, I personally felt disappointed in Rashford’s play.
Though there was a better option to pass to Adnan Januzaj, who was in open space, he often lost the ball by trying to break through forcefully.
While God gave Rashford physicality, apparently he didn’t grant him much football intelligence.
He was the type of player who made me wonder how it would have been if his soccer IQ had been just a bit higher.
While I was feeling disappointed with Rashford’s play.
“Hmph. A great striker. A true striker must be selfish during scoring situations.”
Cristiano Ronaldo muttered to himself.
I sighed and shook my head at Ronaldo’s comment.
‘Strikers are always like this.’
Anyway, as the Premier League Round 32 concluded and the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals approached.
[Mourinho of Chelsea: “I know how to beat Barcelona. Enrique can never be my match….”]
The articles began pouring in.
[Undeterred by Mourinho’s provocation, Coach Luis Enrique: “Right now, Messi is looking forward to the match against Man U. Chelsea won’t be able to stop us.”]
Some chilling headline articles appeared occasionally, but I decided not to worry about them as that was a matter for my future self.
[The Son Jinho Derby between Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United. The Champions League is on SBK!]
[Son Heung-min: “I’m about to compete against players called the best in the world. I’ll do my best to win.”]
And time quickly passed.
April 15.
[In just a moment, the match between Dortmund and Manchester United will take place here at the dream theater, Old Trafford!]
The first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals began at Old Trafford.
***
“Glory Glory Man United!”
The chants of Man U and those of Dortmund echoed together on the pitch.
“Leuchte auf mein stern Borussia. (Shine on my star Borussia)”
Since this was Man U’s home ground, it was only natural that United’s chants were louder, but strangely, it was the Dortmund chant that rang a bit clearer in my ears.
“leuchte auf, zeig mir den Weg. (Shine down, show me the way.)”
Hearing the Dortmund chant after such a long time reminded me of the days I played there.
‘Huh. Let’s give it our all. That’s the least I can do to pay respect to the fans who came from Dortmund.’
While I was momentarily lost in emotion.
The players from both teams completed their preparations for the match.
Beeeeeep─!
The referee blew the whistle, signaling the start of the match.
Dortmund immediately applied intense pressure from the front as the match began.
The triangular unit consisting of Marco Reus – Robert Lewandowski – Son Heung-min poured all their energy into proving themselves.
Manchester United was caught off guard and began to back down helplessly under Jürgen Klopp’s original gegenpressing tactic, burning off all their natural momentum.
Even Virgil van Dijk, who earned the title of “The Wall” after Nemanja Vidić, was flustered and made mistakes under Dortmund’s fierce pressure.
Had it not been for De Gea’s brilliant saves, Manchester United might have been led around by Dortmund from the early stages of the match.
In any case, to turn the situation around, I started running wildly from the defensive line.
United began to gradually increase their possession and establish a foothold in the game.
Dortmund, not wanting to easily concede the flow of the game they had led, also began to raise the pace.
The match was played at a crazy pace, with the ball going back and forth between the two ends of the pitch within just eight seconds, thrilling the eyes of the spectators.
Marco Reus, having pushed through the flank, sent in a cross, and Virgil van Dijk headed it away just before it connected with Robert Lewandowski.
As soon as İlkay Gündoğan caught the cleared ball, a counter-attack for Manchester United ensued.
“Doan!”
Hearing my shout, İlkay Gündoğan immediately connected the pass.
I let the ball slip while smoothly turning my body and successfully broke through Sven Bender.
In a space that had opened up, Cristiano Ronaldo and Van Persie were seen asking for passes as they penetrated into the penalty box.
“Crist! Receive!”
This time, I chose Cristiano Ronaldo.
His warm-up before the match looked quite promising.
And in fact, Cristiano Ronaldo played as if he had channeled the spirit of Guti that day.
With the attention of Dortmund’s players concentrated on him, he cunningly attempted a back-heel pass using his heel.
As the Dortmund players looked on blankly at the unexpected move.
Ronaldo’s pass rolled perfectly in the direction I was sprinting.
Before the defenders could react, I rushed in and finished strong.
Swish─!
The ball sailed past Roman Weidenfeller, shaking the net.
‘Heja BVB!!’
With the ball shaking the net, various emotions began swirling within me.
Unable to contain my feelings, I dashed toward Jürgen Klopp, who was celebrating my goal, and hugged him tightly.
“Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”
“Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”
And as we grabbed each other’s faces and roared.
“…”
“…”
Realizing we were, in fact, rivals, we exchanged awkward smiles.
***
[GOOOOOOOOOOL─! Son Jinho!! Son Jinho’s shot successfully shakes the net!!]
└ Huh? Huh? Where’s this guy going!
└ LOL where’s Son Jinho off to? Hahaha
[After scoring, Son Jinho hugs Jürgen Klopp and roars!!! It’s a beautiful scene reminiscent of Park Jisung and Hiddink from 2002!]
└ LOL look at the ref’s confused face, that’s hilarious!
└ Ref: …Should I give a card for this provocative act?
[…Yes. But Jürgen Klopp was his former coach.]
└ Damn, wait did Dortmund just score? Is this real?
└ ???: Huh? Why does Klopp look happy? Is it a Dortmund score?
└ Honestly, it was understandable to be confused hahaha!