The Fiery Welcome at Signal Iduna Park
“You'll never walk alone!”
Dortmund fans who had come to Signal Iduna Park greeted the Manchester United players and supporters with flares even before kickoff.
Had the veteran Park Jisong been moved by Dortmund’s welcoming pyrotechnics?
“Um… Jinho, is it actually allowed to set off flares in the Bundesliga?”
Park Jisong let out a hollow laugh, clearly embarrassed by his own question.
Well, that was how bewildering the sight was. I understood the feeling completely. It had taken me time to get used to it too.
“No, it’s against the rules. They’ll probably get fined.”
I answered with a benevolent expression.
In reality, setting off flares in the Bundesliga constitutes a rule violation and incurs a fine.
“Then why doesn’t the club stop them from doing it?”
To the innocently curious Park Jisong, I offered a simple truth of life.
“Hyung.”
“Yeah?”
“Do people really stop just because they’re told not to?”
“If they’re told not to, they should stop. Isn’t that obvious?”
“Hyung, did you ever stop watching porn just because the government told you not to?”
“…”
“See? Being told not to only makes you want to do it more. And in a way, this is culture, Hyung.”
The German Football Association, the clubs, and the fans themselves had long accepted that flares could not be stopped.
For German supporters, flares were simply the continuation of tradition.
The meaning behind setting them off was a beautiful one: carrying forward the ancestral customs of the Huns who once burned ancient civilizations, now expressed in a modern form.
‘Hmm… maybe Signal Iduna Park is like a hanok village where history and tradition are preserved.’
In the future, attempts would even be made to legalize “cold flares” inside stadiums in the name of preserving traditional culture. Of course, the bill would fail due to issues with the German football development fund—otherwise known as fines.
Instead, much like raising cigarette prices for public health, the German Football Association would announce plans to increase fines for flares to ensure safer matchday experiences in the Bundesliga.
‘People are the same everywhere.’
Anyway, this particular German football development fund payment would go to UEFA rather than the German FA.
As kickoff approached, the players began to emerge onto the pitch. The moment the Champions League anthem rang out, Dortmund’s famous Südtribüne unveiled its tifo.
Burning yellow flares and a skull-shaped card display.
Viewers watching the scene live were stunned.
While Premier League fans reeled at the atmosphere inside Signal Iduna Park—
[Even before the match has started, Dortmund fans are giving their team incredibly passionate support.]
[That’s right. The yellow flares of Dortmund are already burning bright. The fire has been lit a little early today.]
The commentators and Bundesliga fans alike looked more delighted than surprised.
[If you’re not used to watching Bundesliga matches, this scene might be startling, but it’s actually very common in the Bundesliga.]
While netizens laughed and chatted, the Champions League anthem came to an end.
[With referee Cüneyt Çakır’s whistle, the match begins.]
At the sound of the whistle, the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 between Dortmund and Manchester United kicked off at Signal Iduna Park.
“Whew. This won’t be easy.”
Looking out at the still-burning Signal Iduna Park, Alex Ferguson predicted a difficult match ahead.
In the first leg at Old Trafford, they had lost 3-1. To reach the quarterfinals, Manchester United needed to score at least three goals.
Despite being away from home, Ferguson had chosen a highly attacking setup.
Manchester United lined up in a 4-2-3-1. Robin van Persie led the line as striker, with Wayne Rooney dropping slightly deeper to operate as an attacking midfielder and shadow striker. Luis Nani and Ryan Giggs provided width and counter-attacking threat on the flanks. In central midfield were Park Jisong and Michael Carrick.
- Ji! Your job is to mark Gino closely!
Starting for the first time in a while, Park Jisong stuck to Son Jinho like glue, determined to carry out Ferguson’s instructions.
[This is a truly heart-stirring moment. South Korean football legend Park Jisong and the rising star Son Jinho are going head-to-head in the Champions League!!]
[Ilkay Gündogan’s pass is weaker than expected! Ah! Park Jisong cuts it out!]
Then, in the 15th minute, Ilkay Gündogan misplaced a pass. Park Jisong intercepted it just before it could reach Son Jinho and immediately played it out to Ryan Giggs on the wing.
Though not quite at his peak, Giggs still possessed dangerous pace. He tore down the touchline, and Manchester United launched the kind of lightning counter-attack that had been missing since David Moyes’ arrival.
Giggs’ driven cross found van Persie, but Mats Hummels cleared it just before the Dutchman could connect. The loose ball fell to Son Jinho, who had dropped into central midfield.
“Gino! Pass!”
Mario Götze, playing as an attacking midfielder, raised his hand and called for the ball. Park Jisong immediately closed in to press.
“Return!”
Son Jinho slipped the pressure with a quick one-two with Gündogan and slipped the ball to Götze before Park Jisong could recover.
Thud.
‘Pressure’s coming from the left.’
Reading the situation, Son Jinho used the outside of his right foot to send the pass the other way. Götze took a first touch in that direction and spun away.
[Mario Götze! One touch and he’s already left Michael Carrick behind!]
As Götze looked up, he saw the once-impenetrable wall of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidić beginning to show cracks. Just as he prepared to shoot from distance—
“Give me the ball!”
Son Jinho had already arrived, demanding the pass.
[Mario Götze spots Son Jinho, who has suddenly surged into the edge of the box!]
Götze’s pass found Son Jinho. Kevin Großkreutz, meeting his eyes, darted into the half-space between Ferdinand and Rafael.
[Son Jinho!! Is he going to shoot?! No—he plays a lobbed pass!]
Using the outside of his right foot, Son Jinho cushioned a first-time pass into the space in front of Großkreutz. The German chose not to shoot himself and instead cut the ball back to Robert Lewandowski inside the box.
Nemanja Vidić threw himself at Lewandowski, blocking the shot.
[It rattles the post!!! Ah! Dortmund’s luck is not with them today!]
Lewandowski’s effort smashed against the woodwork. Dortmund fans who had been roaring in anticipation groaned in disappointment, while Manchester United supporters exhaled in relief.
Despite the sharpness of Dortmund’s counter, United’s attacking intent remained undiminished.
“Even if the game ends like this, it’s over for us! Keep pushing!”
The veterans, Ferdinand and Vidić among them, kept the team’s spirits high.
The match between Dortmund and Manchester United raged on. As the first half drew to a close—
“Agh! Stop running so much!!”
Park Jisong’s frustrated shout echoed across the pitch toward Son Jinho, who was still charging around like a dog in the snow.