LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 246
The day after Manchester United secured FA Cup victory and completed the double.
We postponed the victory celebration parade to prepare for the Champions League final.
With just one match remaining to fulfill the treble promised by the boss at the start of the season.
As the date of the Champions League final drew nearer, my heart began to race.
Five years had passed since my regression.
– My wish is to transfer to Manchester United, win the Champions League, and have Big Ear propose to me.
The time to keep my promise to Gyeouri was fast approaching.
Well. Honestly, keeping my promise to Gyeouri wasn’t difficult.
If it’s Manchester United now, we’ll lift the Champions League trophy sooner or later, even if not this time.
Because there are countless world-class talents including Cristiano Ronaldo and me.
And if not, I could always buy the club later and challenge for the Champions League title.
But…
Is it meaningful to win that way?
‘I should at least lift one more Big Ear before the boss departs.’
Huff….
I shook my head, using the boss’s excuse to steel my resolve.
There was no need to turn a blind eye to my true feelings now.
I faced the feelings I’d been trying to ignore.
Gyeouri’s wish is one thing, and Sir Alex Ferguson’s farewell is another…
But…
‘Lionel Messi.’
I simply wanted to surpass the Messi of my prime and defeat FC Barcelona.
***
As the Champions League final approached, Manchester United players noticed that Son Jinho’s atmosphere had changed.
Son Jinho’s more aggressive training didn’t seem too concerning. He had always pushed himself harshly on days he lost matches or wasn’t satisfied with his play.
[Manchester United names Ronaldo and Son Jinho as the hardest workers.]
[Robert Lewandowski comments on Son Jinho’s training: “There’s a reason he’s the best. Jinho has always trained actively since his Dortmund days.”]
The Manchester United players, who watched Son Jinho closely, understood the grit that had made him one of the best.
“Why do you look so serious?”
“Jinho hasn’t bothered Chris all day.”
But the fact that Son Jinho wasn’t bothering Cristiano Ronaldo was a serious issue.
The dark-haired beast, who constantly pushed Ronaldo, now letting it slide shocked the Manchester United players.
As soon as training ended, Cristiano Ronaldo and the other Manchester United players rushed to Sir Alex Ferguson’s office. They needed to report Son Jinho’s unusual behavior quickly.
Not wanting to barge in, Cristiano Ronaldo decided to go in as the representative.
Nodding to his teammates’ gazes, Ronaldo boldly kicked the door open.
“What’s going on?”
As the door swung open, a visibly furious Sir Alex Ferguson came into view.
“SIUUU─! SIU─! SIUUU─!”
Ronaldo rushed to Ferguson and began talking about Son Jinho.
“Get it right, or you’ll end up in trouble.”
Feeling the intensity from Sir Alex Ferguson, Cristiano Ronaldo finally regained his composure.
“Boss, Son Jinho didn’t bother me today! Something must be wrong!”
Ferguson’s face turned serious after hearing Ronaldo’s words.
‘Is there something seriously wrong with Jinho?’
He immediately called for Son Jinho to have a chat.
“Jinho, it would be good if you could tell me honestly. Is there something wrong with you?”
“Nope! I’m all good.”
“What about your mind?”
“…?”
Having succeeded in gauging Son Jinho’s psychology, Sir Alex Ferguson thought.
‘Is it a rivalry feeling towards Messi?’
He smiled satisfactorily.
‘After all, competition is what helps players grow.’
Although one might break upon realizing the overwhelming talent of a rival.
‘No matter how I see it, I don’t think Jinho will break.’
It was unrelated to Son Jinho.
Seeing Son Jinho’s gaze, Sir Alex Ferguson felt he could give Son Jinho a bit more responsibility in the Champions League final.
But with not much time left before the final, he couldn’t suddenly change his tactics.
He decided to organize his thoughts for Plan B.
***
As the Champions League final approached, Manchester United decided to leave slightly earlier for local acclimatization.
“Be careful not to get injured and come back safely.”
“Okay. Is there anything you need from Germany?”
“Bring back Big Ear.”
Son Jinho lightly flicked Han Gyeouri on the forehead as if saying to get him some Melona.
“Ow!”
Gyeouri hugged her forehead, feeling the sharp pain.
Son Jinho laughed at Gyeouri like that.
“Uhtzmur. Jnzuhpfd.”
Just as Son Jinho was about to pet Gyeouri’s head, he suddenly realized,
“By the way, where’s Haeun?”
“Huh?”
Son Jinho realized his daughter Son Haeun was missing.
Gyeouri’s face went pale.
“Mom! Dad! Have you seen Haeun?”
“Hmm? Haven’t seen her.”
“Isn’t she napping in her room?”
“I just checked, she’s not in the room!”
The whole family started to search for Haeun.
And after a while.
– Father-in-law: Kids, I found Haeun.
– Cheolmo: Where was she?
– Father-in-law: She was hiding in Jinho’s bag.
Son Haeun, who had been hiding in Son Jinho’s luggage, was discovered.
“Wow. Did she even make a breathing hole in there?”
“Hehe. Isn’t Haeun amazing?”
“That’s not a compliment!”
“Hmph….”
While Gyeouri scolded her daughter, Son Jinho packed back what Haeun had taken.
“I don’t wanna! Haeun wants to go with Dad!”
Son Haeun threw a tantrum, wanting to go to Germany with Dad.
“Dad─!!”
“Haeun, I’ll buy you a gift from Germany.”
“Okay. Then I’ll wait patiently.”
They headed to Berlin, Germany.
***
As the Champions League final drew near.
Manchester United and FC Barcelona began to engage in a fierce psychological warfare outside the stadium by conducting interviews.
[Viral van Dijk: “How to stop Lionel Messi? I know how.”]
[Luis Enrique: “Everyone has a good plan until they get stepped on by Messi.”]
The intensity of provocations grew stronger as time went on.
The atmosphere among the fans began to escalate.
Due to the intense atmosphere among the fans, UEFA even requested restraint.
Having experienced several tragedies, including the Heysel disaster, UEFA could only be sensitive about safety issues.
[UEFA requests Manchester United and Barcelona to refrain from provocative interviews.]
[UEFA will thoroughly check for prohibited items.]
└ So they can’t bring in flares?
└ Why flares?
└ Aren’t flares allowed?
└ Flares were originally banned, you idiots.
└ If the club pays a fine, can’t they bring them in?
└ I thought the DFB was poor and just extorted donations under the guise of fines.
└ Oh. Wait, now I’m suddenly curious. If we set off flares during the Champions League final, who ends up paying the fine?
└ Probably Manchester United, right? Because we’re cheering for them.
└ Damn. So we set off the flares, but Manchester United pays the fine? That’s complete irresponsible pleasure.
As the Dortmund fans realized that it was irresponsible pleasure.
Time swiftly passed.
Before they knew it, the Champions League final had arrived.
“Jinho! We’re here to cheer you on, so don’t worry!”
“Die Menschen im Schwarz und Gelben Ruhrgebiet Werden immer stolz an deiner Seite sein! (The people in the black and yellow Ruhr area will always be by your side!)”
Football fans from around the world began gathering to watch the match between Manchester United and FC Barcelona.
***
[2014/2015 UEFA Champions League Final, where the best clubs in Europe face off, is taking place here at Olympiastadion Berlin in Germany.]
[Yes, it has been the home ground of Hertha Berlin since 1988.]
[You can really see a lot of Dortmund fans in yellow shirts here. It’s incredible that despite the transfer, Son Jinho is still so beloved by his former team.]
[Indeed. In just three years, including two years in youth, he has thoroughly captivated the hearts of Dortmund fans.]
[Yes, at this moment, we can see Sir Alex Ferguson and Luis Enrique shaking hands before the match starts. Captain Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United and Captain Lionel Messi from FC Barcelona will flip a coin for the kickoff.]
[With FC Barcelona winning the coin toss, the match is about to start… but the audience has ignited flares. The game’s start is momentarily delayed.]
└ Son Jinho lol All the other players are panicking, and there he is looking all chill.
└ Right? lol A flare going off in the finals and he’s so relaxed.
└ He probably sensed the Champions League was being held in Germany and prepared in advance lol