DFL Supercup - 2
When selecting the greatest team of the 21st century, after the 2010/11 FC Barcelona, the 2012/13 Bayern Munich is the next most frequently mentioned.
That season's Munich displayed a level of strength on another dimension entirely.
In the original history, alongside their treble, they suffered just a single league defeat, narrowly missing out on an invincible title run. It was also the season when legendary manager Jupp Heynckes announced his retirement.
Well... four years later, he came back as a savior pitcher to rescue a worn-out and broken Bayern Munich, pushing Real Madrid to the brink in the Champions League semifinals and earning rave reviews for his tactical genius.
One couldn't help but wonder what might have happened if he hadn't retired and had continued leading Bayern.
Hmm.
'Come to think of it, don't I need to win the Champions League with Man United?'
Yeah, Jupp Heynckes is probably better off just retiring.
With FC Barcelona's two trebles in the 2010s alone and Real Madrid's three-peat in the Champions League, the path was already daunting enough. Add Heynckes' Bayern Munich to the mix, and even if I somehow prevented Alex Ferguson's retirement, claiming the Big Ear would be a grueling march.
Anyway.
As the second half kicked off after halftime, Bayern Munich's attacks were razor-sharp one by one, their defensive organization airtight.
Philipp Lahm, having blocked Marco Reus's dribble breakthrough, attempted a pass to Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Tak-!
I stepped in ahead of the pass to Schweinsteiger and intercepted it successfully. Schweinsteiger immediately came at me with a physical challenge.
Thud.
I staggered but quickly regained my balance and held firm.
Honestly, last season I might have lost my footing and the ball. Thanks to my improved physicality this season, I managed to withstand it.
The balanced nutrition from a young age and systematic training were paying off. Especially impressive was how much better my physical abilities had developed compared to my previous life.
Even before fully maturing, it's already this good. I couldn't wait to see what it'd be like at my physical peak.
Bam-!
Shaking off Schweinsteiger, I passed to Mario Goetze and immediately surged into the space behind.
Maybe because they'd conceded the equalizer to me penetrating the penalty box?
Bayern's defenders and Manuel Neuer's eyes locked onto me.
Boateng followed me, momentarily cracking Bayern's defense.
Ilkay Gundogan exploited the space I'd created to burst forward, and Mario Goetze's cutback pass went his way.
"Block him—!"
Boateng snapped to attention and lunged at Gundogan, but it was too late.
Thwack—!
Gundogan caught it perfectly on his instep, the shot rocketing toward goal.
Everyone thought it was in.
But Manuel Neuer saved Bayern.
Neuer parried the mid-range strike aimed for the top corner.
Neuer's super save and Gundogan clutching his head in despair captured the two teams' joy and sorrow.
Buoyed by Neuer's heroics, Bayern launched another attack.
Arjen Robben unleashed his trademark cut-inside move, shredding the defensive line in an instant.
But fortunately, Robben's shot veered off due to poor accuracy, sailing over the crossbar.
"Fick! Get your heads in the game, you idiots!"
Roman Weidenfeller harshly berated the defenders, who raised their hands in apology.
The teams traded blows in quick succession. The thrilling match had Signal Iduna Park heating up.
Both sides created great chances, but the goalkeepers—entering top form that day—kept the scoresheet clean.
The second half was nearing its end.
Tired, perhaps.
As stoppage time loomed, neither team produced anything special.
Maybe because the season had just begun and their bodies weren't fully tuned yet.
Sven Bender, subbed on for the fatigued Sebastian Kehl, sent a pass my way.
I neatly shrugged off Toni Kroos with my first touch and slipped the ball into the space ahead of Mario Goetze.
Dante used his arm to stop Goetze's run.
Due to the height difference between Dante and Goetze? Unfortunately, Dante's right arm smacked Goetze right in the face.
"Aaaagh—!" Tweet—!
Goetze screamed, clutching his face as he hit the turf. The ref blew the whistle, stopped play, and carded Dante.
"You okay?"
"Yeah."
As Goetze got up with Robert Lewandowski's help,
I fiddled with the ball, eyeing the free-kick spot.
About 25 meters out.
Perfect position for a right-footed curler.
Normally, I'd have stepped up with full confidence.
But fatigue dulled my senses; precise aiming was impossible.
"Jino, mind if I take the free kick? Feeling it."
As I pondered, Goetze approached.
The DFL-Supercup had no extra time. Miss, and it went to penalties—a high-pressure spot.
"If you miss, it's pens. You sure?"
I was ready to hand it over.
"On second thought, Jino, you should take it."
I gave him a thumbs-up teasingly and blankly watched Goetze stroll back casually.
Well.
Chatting with Goetze eased my tension, and a good idea hit.
'Hit it low and hard.'
I'd target the gap under the wall as they jumped.
In the future, players might lie down to block, but in the 12/13 season, it wasn't common.
It only caught on after 18/19, when Inter's Brozovic lay down to stop Suarez's free kick and went viral.
I didn't expect Bayern players to dive for the feet.
Tweet—!
As I finalized my plan, the ref's whistle blew.
I jogged up slowly, timing the wall's jump, and struck it low and fast. Thwack—!
The ball zipped under Boateng's feet toward the bottom left corner. Swish—! It grazed past Neuer's fingertips and rippled the net.
"Hoooooo—!"
I sprinted off, unleashing the Hoo celebration.
"Hoooooo—!"
The crowd's thunderous Hoo shook Signal Iduna Park.
Son Jinho's free-kick goal stood as the winner, ending the match. Dortmund extended their winning streak to six, carrying the good momentum forward.
With Dortmund captain Sebastian Kehl lifting the trophy, the ceremony wrapped up, and Son Jinho did the M.O.M. interview.
"Klopp abused me as a child, so please report him."
Son Jinho, drenched in beer, entered the interview area and tossed out what he figured was German-friendly humor.
The reporter, smiling, kicked off with light congratulations.
- Congratulations on the win.
"Thanks."
- That special celebration—what's the meaning?
"Those who know, know. My girlfriend's pregnant. It's my way of saying sorry and thanks for getting pregnant so young."
- Doesn't becoming a dad feel burdensome?
"It does. But it's just as joyful."
- Final words for your girlfriend?
"Gyeowol, I'll make you happy from now on. Love you!"
The interview ended as Dortmund teammates sneaked up and poured beer over his head.
***
"Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!"
"Who's the German champions!?"
"BVB Dortmund!!"
Entering the locker room, Dortmund players broke into the champions' dance. Marco Reus fiddled with the trophy curiously.
While teammates reveled, I quietly checked my smartphone messages.
Chatting with Gyeowol made me feel like I'd regressed from a 30-something uncle to my teens.
As we flirted for a while, Father-in-law grumbled his way in.
Mother-in-law and Father-in-law bickered, and Gyeowol jumped into the friend-like couple's fray.
Yeah, the little kid inside is pretty shocking.
Goe-tong-su and Bae-ban-dop combined probably couldn't match Van Tong-su's pinky toe.
Anyway.
I bought strawberries and got home, and Gyeowol ran into my arms. Since getting pregnant, Han Gyeowol had been openly affectionate. Well.
"Heh—. Feed me with your mouth!"
I don't remember the details, but the strawberries were sweet.