My Girlfriend Wants Victory

---

***

While Alex Ferguson’s retirement ceremony was underway.

‘The Manchester United after the old man’s retirement…’

After a light hug with the old man, I contemplated his post-retirement life.

Reflecting on the original history, I thought I’d be a laughingstock in the Premier League, but so many things have already changed from what was originally supposed to happen.

Unlike in the original timeline, where he retired in 2013.

The old man spent an additional two years with Manchester United, and Manchester United successfully rebuilt itself.

The void left by the veterans was filled with young and promising players.

Virgil van Dijk, who had joined Manchester United during the last winter transfer market, neatly filled the defensive gap.

Young talents like Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling were also growing rapidly.

And it wasn’t just the young players who were growing.

The board and staff of Manchester United were also continuously evolving.

Ed Woodward, who would have become the chairman after Ferguson’s retirement, focused on promotion and marketing, and began learning about club management and player recruitment, areas he wasn’t familiar with.

At this rate, it seemed like Manchester United wouldn’t decline like in the original history.

In fact, it seems hard for a club like Manchester United to fall.

During the time Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge, Manchester United’s recognition soared globally, resulting in astronomical revenue.

That’s why, despite spending 140 billion on a top player, Manchester United could still spend money.

It was also why it was tough to call the original Manchester United’s situation a decline.

While the performance had dropped compared to before.

Was it because Alex Ferguson, the bug character, got patched, coinciding with the normalization of the league?

“Glory! Glory! Man United!”

Anyway, I nodded my head while hearing Manchester United’s chant ringing in my ears.

If, for various reasons, I were to leave Manchester United, it seems I’d choose La Liga over the Premier League.

Though not as much as Dortmund, I had developed a fondness for this place too.

I couldn’t hurt the fans just because I was disappointed in the club.

Anyway, while I pondered the future.

“Meeting you has been the most fantastic thing in my life. Thank you so much.”

With the old man’s words of thanks, the retirement ceremony came to an end.

The old man headed to the bench, receiving applause from everyone who visited Old Trafford.

While preparations for the match were being made on the ground, Ronaldo called the Manchester United players together.

“Today, let’s not chase personal stats and win for the boss.”

“For the boss’s victory!”

With Cristiano Ronaldo tossing away the concept for a moment, the Manchester United players actively responded.

A moment later.

Beeeeep──!

As the referee’s whistle blew, the match between Manchester United and Leicester City began.

***

[Manchester United showing strong pressure right at the start of the match.]

From the very beginning, Manchester United pushed Leicester City hard.

The retirement ceremony for Alex Ferguson unfolded at Old Trafford, heating up the players’ hearts enough.

[Michael Carrick snatching the ball! It’s Manchester United’s counterattack!]

With the motivation of the Manchester United players set, Michael Carrick successfully stole the ball from Jamie Vardy.

[Michael Carrick passes to Ronaldo!]

Cristiano Ronaldo, having the ball, passed to Robin van Persie, not greedy for personal glory.

However, Robin van Persie’s shot missed the goal by a wide margin, confused as he thought Ronaldo wouldn’t pass to him in the penalty box.

While Ronaldo was glaring at van Persie like he wanted to kill him, the game resumed with a goal kick from Leicester City’s goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel.

Manchester United kept pressuring Leicester City, and their defensive line naturally rose.

“Maintain the defensive line…!”

Seeing the backspace too wide, Alex Ferguson was about to point out to adjust the defense line when.

[Drinkwater’s pressure, successfully steals the ball from İlkay Gündoğan!]

After relentlessly pressuring İlkay Gündoğan, Drinkwater succeeded in taking the ball away.

[Jamie Vardy is rushing! Drinkwater to Vardy!]

Simultaneously, Leicester City’s counterattack unfolded.

Jamie Vardy sprinted through the open space behind Manchester United.

[Manchester United’s defenders claim it’s offside, but he’s onside!!]

United’s defenders raised their hands claiming offside, but the referee and assistant referee declared it onside.

[What an exquisite line-breaking by Jamie Vardy.]

Virgil van Dijk rushed to catch up to Jamie Vardy but couldn’t follow him, who had taken off a step quicker.

With Vardy shaking off Virgil van Dijk, he reached the penalty box first.

[Jamie Vardy!!]

He pushed off the interference from Virgil van Dijk, attempting a shot through David De Gea’s legs.

[Vardy’s On Fire!!! Jamie Vardy from Leicester City delivers a lethal strike at Old Trafford!!]

[At the late age of 27, Jamie Vardy, who debuted in the top tier, scores against the Premier League’s strongest club, Manchester United!]

The ball that left Vardy’s foot shook Manchester United’s net.

“Vardy’s on Fire, Your defense is terrified!”

With Vardy’s score, the Leicester City fans’ chants echoed loudly.

“Come On!!!!!”

Jamie Vardy ran towards the corner flag and let out a roar.

***

I watched Jamie Vardy charging to the corner flag and roaring.

2015/2016 season.

Proving that Leicester City’s fairy-tale victory wasn’t just a stroke of luck.

Jamie Vardy successfully seized the opportunity that came to him.

With Vardy’s opening goal, Leicester City, boosted by morale, tried fiercely to push Manchester United, but.

We wouldn’t easily give up the flow of the game.

Seeing the old man’s retirement ceremony, our motivation soared to 200%.

Against a rejuvenated Leicester City, we launched an immediate counterattack.

As Manchester United’s kick-off resumed the match, Cristiano Ronaldo’s pass, swirling on the left side, was delivered to me.

I sidestepped Esteban Cambiasso and attempted a long-range shot.

Kaaang──!

The well-placed long shot struck the crossbar and flew out of the goal line.

‘Ah, if only it had hit the inside of my foot a bit more, it would have been a goal…’

Leaving behind my regret, I gave a thumbs up to Ronaldo, who had passed to me.

Usually, he would have complained for not getting a return pass, but.

Today, for some reason, he quietly nodded and got over it.

Time continued to flow.

Just before the first half ended.

In a situation where Sadio Mané was up against Jeffrey Schlupp.

I penetrated into the penalty box.

“Sadio!”

As I called for a pass, Mané’s ball headed towards the space I was running into.

“Stop!!”

As the Leicester City defenders’ gazes shifted to me.

I slightly twisted my standing foot instead of shooting, attempting a cross.

The cross sailed between the goalkeeper and the defender, reaching Cristiano Ronaldo who was on the opposite side.

“SIUUUUUUU──!”

Ronaldo calmly took a shot, successfully shaking Leicester City’s net.

***

As Ronaldo’s equalizing goal matched the end of the first half.

The second half began.

As the time towards the end of the match approached, Manchester United pressed Leicester City even harder.

“Booooo─!!”

“Turns out the one curled up in fear wasn’t a fox, but a turtle!”

The atmosphere of the match began to heat up.

By the 20-minute mark of the second half, where a halt due to smoke would have occurred in the German Bundesliga.

Receiving a pass from Sadio Mané, Robin van Persi, with his back turned in the penalty box, subtly passed the ball to me.

With the momentum of my run, I attempted a shot.

“Son Jinho, there’s still an assist left for me! Pass it to me!!”

Though I heard a strange voice in my ear.

‘Damn it, after being tormented by Ronaldo, now I’m hearing things.’

Considering it just an illusion, I focused on the shot.

Wobble──!

Leicester City’s Schmeichel goalkeeper couldn’t even react and had to concede a goal.

***

The match against Leicester City ended in Manchester United’s victory, and the interview started.

– Sir Ferguson’s retirement ceremony has been held. How is the atmosphere within the squad?

The reporter smiled and asked questions related to Ferguson’s retirement.

“We’ve united to achieve the treble.”

– What would you like to say to fans worried about life after Sir Ferguson?

“We won’t get weaker or fail. We will fight until the end. We will fight at Wembley. And we will fight in Germany. If each player fulfills their duties and does their best in their respective positions, we will never lose.”

Pleased with my flawless answer, the reporter then asked.

– Lastly, there have been recent rumors about your transfer. Are you going to stay?

The reporter’s question continued.

I found myself channeling a speechless Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Hoowwwww──!”

– …Should I take that as a confirmation from Ronaldo?

I nodded my head in response to the reporter’s question.

Realizing the reporter’s departure, I suddenly had an epiphany.

‘When faced with difficult questions, just yelling “hooo” solves everything; is that why Ronaldo sells my name?’

***

[As Cristiano Ronaldo was bewildered at the reporter’s question to interpret Son Jinho’s answer, he expressed his confusion with a… “SIU?”]