Korean Derby - 2
After my equalizer, the first half ended without any other special moments.
If there was anything noteworthy, it was probably right before the whistle when Son Heung-min unleashed a sharp left-footed curling shot toward goal.
Well.
Thanks to the advice I'd given him just before kickoff—watch out for Son Heung-min's curling shots from his zone—we got through it unscathed.
Mats Hummels, who blocked Son Heung-min's dangerous shot, gave me a thumbs-up as thanks for the heads-up I'd provided beforehand.
"Nice defending!"
I smiled and clapped. It was a small gesture, but these little actions build up to create team spirit.
Teams with poor atmospheres rarely achieve results, so for victory, this was the most basic essential.
Anyway, halftime followed the end of the first half.
"Hey, Jino. You scored in the first half, so now you gotta assist too. Thread me one in killer style."
As we headed down the tunnel to the away locker room, Robert Lewandowski slung an arm around my shoulders and demanded a killer pass for the second half.
We'd become best buddies sometime after last season's Schalke racism incident.
Maybe, being a Polish guy who faced discrimination in Germany himself, he'd taken pity on a young kid like me dealing with the same and started looking out for me.
"Jino!"
"Yeah?"
"Ignore that Leva guy's begging and pass to me instead."
"Nah."
"Why! I assisted your goal too."
"Oh. Fair enough, then."
Of course, it wasn't just Lewandowski—all the other Dortmund players were the same.
Since Kagawa Shinji left for Tottenham Hotspur in this summer's transfer window, they'd been extra attentive to me.
Probably because we were both East Asian, they figured I was stepping up in Kagawa's place.
'Kagawa and I only ever talked about girl groups, though.'
Well... that just went to show how great the current Dortmund atmosphere was.
Of course, being a group of people, some players didn't like me.
But even they didn't show open hostility or clash with me outright. We were teammates and pros, after all, even if they weren't thrilled.
"So, Jino, you're gonna give me a pass where I just gotta stick my foot out for the goal, right?"
"...You're not just asking for a table set—you want it spoon-fed."
"...Huh? Why'd you switch to Korean all of a sudden?"
"Nichts. Just saying you're amazing."
I chatted with the Dortmund players as we entered the away locker room.
"The coach is disappointed in you all."
There stood Jurgen Klopp, channeling a drill sergeant to greet us.
"...What'd you tell Jürgen this time?"
I regretted ever telling him about Korean military culture from the internet.
"Watch out for number 40, Jinho's buddy, and Jinho—you get more aggressive in attack!"
After lightening the mood with some banter, Jurgen Klopp got straight to tactical instructions for the players.
"Let's show them the German champions. Heja!"
"BVB!"
Halftime was nearly over. The Dortmund players gathered in a circle, steeling their resolve for victory.
The second half between Hamburg and Dortmund unfolded fiercely.
The ones to first rattle the net were Hamburg, fueled by their home fans' cheers.
In the 12th minute of the second half, Son Heung-min snatched a pass from Sebastian Laschner and surged forward, curling a left-footed shot into the net.
"Sorry!"
The team's spiritual leader, Sebastian Laschner, raised his hand in apology to his teammates.
Dortmund's players shrugged it off with gestures saying it was fine.
"No worries, plenty of time left! Stay calm!"
Along the touchline, Jurgen Klopp clapped to rally his players.
Son Heung-min finished his celebration and returned to position. Dortmund's kickoff restarted play.
Not long after, Ivan Perisic equalized.
"You bastard! That was the perfect pass!"
Ivan Perisic, who just had to tap in my spoon-fed cross, charged at Son Jinho and hugged him.
Thwack-thwack!
"Ow! I didn't score it!"
The Dortmund players swarmed, ruffling my hair vigorously.
And in the 39th minute of the second half.
Lewandowski, receiving Son Jinho's pass, won a penalty. Kicker Mats Hummels slotted it cleanly home, sealing Dortmund's victory.
After the Hamburg match ended, I scored a reward day off from Jurgen Klopp and had dinner with Hongmin hyung.
"Nice to meet you. I always watch Son Jinho's games."
Coach Son Jeong-woong was there too.
"Ah, the honor's all mine."
It felt like meeting a celebrity.
I steadied my shaking heart and slowly spoke up.
"Am I world class?!"
I'd always wanted to ask a coach that someday.
The coach looked puzzled for a moment.
"Hmm... In my opinion, it's a bit early to call you world class yet."
Sensing my earnest eyes craving an honest assessment, the coach slowly replied.
Aah. So I'm not world class after all.
Getting that verdict from him felt like becoming a superfan.
Maybe this was how it felt to duo with Daesanghyuk in League?
As this superfan me started bawling, unbeliever Hongmin hyung's voice cut in.
"...Is he nuts?"
The day after the Dortmund-Hamburg match, at lunch.
"Glory Man~ U~~~"
Gyeowol was humming a tune, hyped from Manchester United's 2-1 win over Liverpool.
I burst out laughing at her cute display, drawing her gaze to me.
"Son Jinho's really coming to Man U, right?"
Not "gonna go," but "coming"—Gyeowol was already one with Manchester United.
If I mocked Man U in front of her, she'd rage like it was a personal insult.
"Gotta go to Man U and make our Gyeowol's wish come true."
"Yeah yeah~ Promises are meant to be kept!"
"And while I'm at it, set up our love nest in Manchester."
"Hmmm... You're not just talking big and gonna bail on joining, right?"
I put on an aggrieved face at her suspicious glare.
"Should I make it a transfer condition? Carve Gyeowol's face on my Man U jersey. Then kiss it during celebration after scoring."
"...Euuugh stop!! Son Jinho stop!! Fine! I get it! Your heart to join Man U and keep the promise has reached me fully!"
My sincerity finally got through to Gyeowol. Her Snow White-pale cheeks flushed red.
After flailing her hands for a while, a calmed Han Gyeowol continued in an excited voice.
"...Thinking about it, maybe it's not so bad?"
Huh?