The Star of Borussia Dortmund - 2
Beep─! Beep! Beep!
The match against Arsenal ended shortly after the equalizer.
"Ha. Can't even become trainer Kang Hyung-ok."
I couldn't hide my disappointment after the final whistle.
Despite Dortmund dominating the attack overall, we'd settled for a draw.
Is this the full Van Persie?
I clicked my tongue lightly while eyeing Robin van Persie.
He'd converted two out of just three shooting chances into goals.
"Olé, jetzt kommt Der BVB!"
Pushing aside my regrets, I greeted the away fans with gratitude as the game wrapped up.
While applauding and thanking them, suddenly—
"Jinoooo! Do the Hoo!!!"
The away fans' request came in, and I nodded.
They'd shelled out for pricey Arsenal match tickets—this much fan service was the least I could do.
I waved my right hand slowly and dashed toward the crowd.
"Hooouuuu─!"
The Hoo echoed through Arsenal's home, the Emirates Stadium.
The Champions League group stage Round 5 had wrapped up.
Arsenal and Dortmund had aimed to lock in their Round of 16 spots with wins, but the match regrettably ended 2:2.
Fortunately for us and Arsenal, Olympique Marseille also failed to secure advancement, losing to Olympiacos in their Round 5 game.
Current Group F standings: Arsenal (8 pts), Dortmund (7 pts), Marseille (7 pts), Olympiacos (6 pts).
A single match could flip the table, so Group F's fate would be decided in the final Round 6.
Dortmund and Marseille's do-or-die clash for Champions League Round of 16 would go down at home—Signal Iduna Park.
On the flight back to Dortmund, I opened the family group chat to check reactions.
I could easily picture Han Gyeowol getting smacked on the back by her mom.
Time flies.
Back in Dortmund, after devouring Hwang Miyeon's hot home-cooked meal, grinding training, and sweetly bickering with Gyeowol, two days had flown by. The Borussia Dortmund vs Schalke Revier Derby loomed.
"Jino! You cannot lose to those idiots!"
"Of course. I'll give it my all to win."
"'Give it your all' isn't enough! You must win!"
"Scheiße 04!"
"Wer wird Deutschmeister?"
"BVB Borussia!"
Walking the streets, Dortmund fans approached, urging no losses to Schalke and belting mocking chants.
Schalke, eyeing the young me, dropped provocative interviews to rattle nerves.
"Jinho! Looks like Schalke's scared!"
Jurgen Klopp called right after seeing the article, comforting me to ignore it.
Honestly, I was unfazed. I'd dealt with this in K League too.
Hype often meant deliberate trash talk for buzz. Anyway, provoked? Time to clap back K League style.
That evening, per bro code, I posted on SNS.
The next day, Signal Iduna Park buzzed for the Dortmund-Schalke Revier Derby.
"Whoa. Holy shit, is that the Yellow Wall?"