My Girlfriend Wants Victory

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We returned directly to Manchester on the private jet as soon as the match ended.

Since we had a good result in the away game, the old man silently ordered us to disperse right away.

While some players gathered one by one to enjoy the party, I headed straight home.

– Gyeouri: Son Jinho, where are you?

– Ho-woo: Huh? We just arrived in Manchester.

– Gyeouri: Got it.

– Ho-woo: Why, did you call?

– Gyeouri: Haeun asked when Dad would be back.

– Ho-woo: Hmm.

– Gyeouri: What?

– Ho-woo: Is it not that you missed me?

– Gyeouri: Are you crazy!?

– Ho-woo: (disappointed polar bear con.)

– Gyeouri: (shy bear con rubbing feet on the ground.)

– Gyeouri: Actually, I did miss you, hahahaha.

– Ho-woo: Hahahahahaha.

Because my precious family was waiting at home.

***

[FC Barcelona draws 1-1 with Juventus in the away match.]

[Supercomputer predicts Champions League final: Manchester United vs FC Barcelona?]

[Supercomputer’s prediction: Champions League champion is FC Barcelona….]

***

The next day after spending happy time with family.

Carrington Training Ground.

Before training started, the old man declared that the players who played in the match against Bayern would get a short holiday from tomorrow.

It seems he wanted to go for a rotation in the Premier League Round 36 against Crystal Palace, just two days later.

“Come On—!!”

“Vamos!!!”

“Jaaaaaaa!!”

Cheers erupted from the starting players at the sudden holiday.

As the season was nearing its end, the players’ stamina had started to show its limits, so they couldn’t help but be more excited.

As the old man raised his right hand, the cheers quieted down immediately.

After making eye contact with each player, he continued speaking.

“We’ll implement a rotation in the next league match, so focus on recovering your stamina and be careful of injuries.”

I quietly nodded in agreement with the old man’s decision.

Because playing while physically exhausted increases the risk of injury.

If we had to risk everything every match to secure a ticket to the Champions League like in the original history, that would be a different story.

But we already secured the Premier League win, hadn’t we?

“Robin, go tell the boss that we want to play.”

“Chris, you go first; I’ll follow.”

“SIU….”

Well…. Cristiano Ronaldo and Robin van Persie, who are in a competition for the top scorer, do have sulky expressions.

Perhaps because of the last time when red-faced Alex Ferguson descended on the manager’s office, they couldn’t dare to ask Ferguson to let them play.

They seemed content that their competitor for the top scorer wasn’t getting to play either.

Anyway, the frequent breaks for the regular starters were quickly raising the skills of Manchester United’s promising players.

[Manchester United’s rising star Marcus Rashford’s transfer fee skyrockets.]

Thanks to the relaxed team situation, they got steady playing time and gained experience.

Receiving feedback from legendary players every day, the promising youngsters were slowly making the legendary teachings their own.

“Don’t forget, Januzaj. If you play a match with me, you have to pass to me.”

I saw Cristiano Ronaldo mentoring Adnan Januzaj during recovery training.

“Still, I’m teaching better than Chris, right?”

I looked at Ronaldo disdainfully and said.

“Mac, mackwooouu.”

And later, Scott McTominay, known as Mac, also actively agreed with my opinion.

***

[Manchester United heading for the away match against Crystal Palace.]

[Manchester United vs Crystal Palace. Starting lineup revealed.]

[Manchester United activates the rotation.]

[Robin van Persie and Cristiano Ronaldo, who are in a top scorer competition, excluded from the lineup cheerfully.]

[Cristiano Ronaldo posts thoughts about the top scorer competition on social media. “Winning the championship is more important than individual records.”]

└ Wow, hahaha, that’s our Shin-do-hyung.

└ But didn’t Ronaldo get, like, roasted for asking Ferguson to let him play last time…?

└ Really?

└ But why can’t I find it even when I search?

└ Where did I see that?

└ There are still these people trying to slander our King God-do-hyung.

└ Seriously, it’s these vomit-inducing people slandering our Shin-do-hyung’s character that are the problem ㅉㅉ

└ For real, next they’ll say he hit a kid too.

***

May 9th.

The Premier League Round 36 match against Crystal Palace was taking place at Selhurst Park, and I was watching the game from home.

As expected from the stadium where the legendary Eric Cantona’s kung fu kick incident occurred, the distance between the field and the stands was quite close.

‘If Chris had made a pad joke, the crowd would have turned against him… wait a minute.’

Lost in thought about the stadium, I suddenly questioned the old man’s decision to not even let us approach the ground.

‘It can’t be that they issued a no-approach order because they were afraid I’d pull a kung fu kick like Cantona.’

Perhaps that possibility needed to be considered.

– Jingjingdu: Son Jinho wants to protest against the boss’s unilateral exclusion from the roster; I hope you join us in our intentions.

– Inner little betrayal: Jino, is there a way I can play in the Premier League alone without Chris?

Unlike the rational and reasonable me, fiery and emotional Ronaldo and Robin van Persie were the type of people you’d expect.

Anyway, while Ronaldo and van Persie were whining in the group chat.

The match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace began.

The end of the long-feeling 14/15 season was just around the corner.

Crystal Palace, sitting 14th in the league, wasn’t safe from relegation, and they were desperately fighting to earn three points against a rotated Manchester United.

Although Crystal Palace was a weak team in the relegation zone.

Even so, as a team competing in the Premier League, they had resilience and firepower.

No matter how much Manchester United’s promising players had gained experience, they were somewhat a formidable opponent to deal with.

Especially, currently, Crystal Palace had the relegation buff on.

They would create trouble even for the championship-contending strong teams and could sometimes be trickier than facing mid-table teams.

“Ughhhh… how could he not score that!”

Anyway, while Gyeouri was glued to the tough match for Manchester United.

“Dad, let’s play pretend!”

I started to play with Haeun.

Once the second child is born, it will likely shift attention slightly toward them.

There may be cases where Haeun feels jealous of the second child getting more parental attention.

Not that it would happen, but since Haeun might feel left out, I decided to prepare her for it in advance.

“Haeun.”

“Yup?”

“When the baby is born, Dad and Mom might not pay as much attention to you; is that okay?”

“Why not? Is it because I said I hate the menu? Then I won’t eat the menu anymore.”

Tears were beginning to gather in the corners of Haeun’s eyes.

“No, it’s not Haeun’s fault. The baby is a newborn so Mom and Dad will need to pay more attention to them.”

I hurried to soothe Haeun who was about to burst into tears.

“Really? It’s not Haeun’s fault?”

“Of course, Haeun is such an angel.”

Haeun, trying not to cry, answered cheerfully at my words.

“Yup! Then it’s fine!”

“Really?”

“Yup, I’m the noona!”

“You’re amazing, Haeun?”

“Hehe, but you still have to play with Haeun sometimes, okay?”

“Of course.”

“Promise!”

“Yeah, promise.”

I thought while hooking my pinky with Haeun.

Kids seem to grow up day by day.

Just as I felt a deep emotional bond with Haeun during our conversation.

“Ugh! Rashford, you idiot! How could you miss that!!!!”

My feelings of warmth quickly faded.

“Menu mote.”

“Yup, City is trophy-less.”

Gyeouri and Haeun began a childish argument.

“Geez, I wonder who Gyeouri takes after to be this childish.”

And surveying that scene, my mother-in-law sighed.

“Yup. I learned it from Mom too.”

“…”

At Gyeouri’s brightly burning filial piety, my mother-in-law remained silent.

***

[Crystal Palace wins 1-0 against Manchester United.]

[After defeating Manchester United, Crystal Palace moves up to 13th in the league; will they safely escape relegation?]

[Teams in relegation threaten the rotation decision of Manchester United. “Manchester United should give their all in league matches.”]

[Alex Ferguson, upset by the complaints from relegation teams. “Why didn’t they stack up points earlier?”]

[Son Jinho speaks about the controversy over Crystal Palace favoritism: “The fact is that Manchester United’s starters are getting healthy.”]

[Stars’ War, UEFA Champions League. Which team will reach the final: Manchester United vs Bayern Munich?]

[Bayern Munich arrives at Manchester Airport ahead of the second leg of the Champions League semifinals.]

[Jupp Heynckes expresses determination in a pre-interview: “The outcome is still undecided.”]

[Cristiano Ronaldo responds to a reporter asking about the top scorer competition with Son Jinho…. “SIUUUU.”]

[When the reporter tries to ask again at the confusing answer, “Ask Son Jinho for interpretation.”]