Vs Hertha Berlin - 1
In the early stages of the first half at Hamburg's home ground, Volksparkstadion, the fans were already in a sour mood after conceding the opening goal.
"HSV forever and ever!"
Even so, the Hamburg supporters kept up their steady cheers for the players on the pitch.
But that didn't last long.
The longer the match dragged on...
"...."
A chilly silence began to settle over the home stands.
It got to the point where even breathing felt burdensome. Then, in the 33rd minute of the second half, as Son Jinho thwarted Hamburg's long-overdue attack and launched a counter, the pitiful cries of the Hamburg fans echoed through the stadium.
"Please stop, you bastard!"
But Son Jinho, fully focused on the game, didn't hear the pleas. Well, even if he had, it probably wouldn't have changed much.
Son Jinho's cross headed straight for Robert Lewandowski. It was a perfect pass dropping between the keeper and the defender—Lewandowski just had to get a foot to it for the goal.
The net rippled, and as the ref pointed to the center circle to confirm Dortmund's goal, tears started streaming from the eyes of the Hamburg fans.
The current score between the two teams: 7-0.
Jurgen Klopp checked the time left on the clock before the kickoff restart.
"Jinho!"
He urgently called Son Jinho over. Even with a six-goal lead, he was worried about Jinho playing without holding back.
Son Jinho walked slowly to the touchline, regretfully leaving the pitch behind.
The Dortmund away supporters rose to their feet, applauding Son Jinho's relentless effort.
After Son Jinho—who had mercilessly hammered Hamburg despite the overwhelming score—was subbed off, Dortmund dialed back the intensity of their press.
Hamburg's Paolo Guerrero kept fighting till the end, exploiting a Dortmund lapse to score a consolation goal right before full time.
But it was far too late to turn the game around.
After the Hamburg match, Dortmund faced the crisis of Mario Gotze's injury, but with Shinji Kagawa's awakening and my efforts, they kept cruising.
In the league, they beat Hoffenheim, Nuremberg, and Leverkusen.
"Be good little sacrificial lambs for the champions, you idiots!"
In the DFB Pokal, they crushed Holstein Kiel 4-0 in the quarterfinals.
And then came the Champions League round of 16 first leg against FC Basel.
Borussia Dortmund welcomed FC Basel to Signal Iduna Park.
"Who's the champion of the Champions League?!"
"Borussia Dortmund!"
They showed them what a class difference meant, knocking Basel out cold.
With a staggering 7-0 defeat, Basel was basically eliminated from the Champions League.
They're probably praising my performance, right?
Having bagged a multi-goal haul against FC Basel, I eagerly opened the group chat.
I nodded at my mother-in-law's KakaoTalk.
Honestly.
A little upset.
The Champions League round of 16 first leg ended, and the next day.
As the saying goes, misfortune strikes without warning—the injury demon hit Dortmund again.
Shinji Kagawa twisted his ankle during team training.
After Mario Gotze's exit, Kagawa had been carrying Dortmund alongside Son Jinho.
His absence hurt bad.
"Not serious, but he'll be out three weeks."
"Sigh... No Mario, and now no Kagawa."
Jurgen Klopp discussed it gravely with his assistant coach, already pondering the away game against Hertha Berlin in two days.