DFB-Pokal Final - 2

May 12, 2012. Olympiastadion.

Emblems symbolizing Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund were placed at either end of the stands, with flags representing the two teams fluttering in the wind.

Even before the match kicked off, the fans were already raising their voices in competitive chants, belting out their team songs.

In this atmosphere split like a war between left and right, a familiar cheer rang in his ears.

"Who are the German champions!?"

In the future, when Dortmund went over a decade without a league title, other teams sang it mockingly. But for the current Dortmund, who had just achieved back-to-back league titles in the 11-12 season, it was different.

This season, we were the German champions.

As Son Jinho tuned into the Dortmund fans' chants, kickoff time approached.

Led by the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠referee, the players entered the pitch, and the German national anthem echoed through the stadium.

"Unity and justice and freedom!"

The fans who had been singing their team anthems and the German players united in this moment to belt out the anthem.

Of course, Jinho just stared blankly into space. He instinctively knew singing along would screw him over.

Having announced his retirement from the Korean national team, he had to be careful—one wrong move and he'd be framed as a traitor.

Didn't they tell the knee-injured Park Ji-sung that it wasn't his body at stake, but the nation's?

It was an era where personal sacrifice was taken for granted under the name of patriotism.

After the 1 minute and 30 seconds of the anthem ended, Jinho exchanged greetings with the Bayern Munich players.

"Good luck." "You too."

The Bayern players wore determined expressions.

Having lost the league title to Dortmund, they seemed ready to throw everything into winning the Pokal.

Best XI, huh.

Even the starting lineup showed Munich's resolve.

With a week until the Champions League final after the DFB-Pokal final, Bayern had no fitness issues and fielded their full-strength squad.

Well, the same went for Dortmund.

Eliminated from the Champions League, this was Dortmund's season finale, so they threw in maximum firepower too.

But the media and experts predicted a slight edge for Bayern in the DFB-Pokal final.

Their claims weren't entirely wrong.

Unlike Bayern's full squad, Dortmund's key player Mario Gotze had only recently returned from injury and wasn't back to full form.

Still, Jinho didn't think they'd lose without Gotze.

In his view, this season's Dortmund was just a bit better than Bayern Munich.

Heck, they'd won the league even after Gotze was ruled out for the second half.

Unlike the original history, Sir Ferguson isn't here. Maybe Kagawa stays at Dortmund next season too.

As Jinho scanned the stands,

Beep—!

The referee's whistle blew, and the DFB-Pokal final kicked off.

Early in the match.

Both teams seemed tense on this final stage, committing silly mistakes they wouldn't normally make.

Schmelzer's errant pass put Dortmund in danger, but luckily, Mario Gomez's shot for Bayern sailed over the crossbar, fizzling out harmlessly.

Dortmund's counterattack followed.

Kagawa Shinji and Robert Lewandowski lost the ball in buildup, but Luis Gustavo put on a horror show with two blunders in a row.

The second bad pass went straight to Ivan Perisic, turning into a perfect through ball.

"Argh—! Pass!"

Perisic sprinted forward and touched the ball just before Manuel Neuer could clear it. Having spotted Jinho's position beforehand, he whipped in a cutback pass.

Boateng rushed in desperately, but slotting it into an empty net was easier than lying down for rice cakes.

Why can't they finish something this easy?

Jinho took the pass and rifled a one-touch shot. The ball left his boot and rippled the net of the unguarded goal.

"Hejaaaaaaa!!!"

Dortmund fans leaped to their feet in ecstasy at the goal.

"Hoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo—!"

Jinho bolted to the corner flag for his celebration. Dortmund players piled on behind him, roaring.

Thwack—! "Scheiße!! My glasses!"

Jurgen Klopp, who had sprinted from the bench to the corner flag, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠joined the pile-on but got elbowed, sending his glasses flying. He started hunting for them.

Jinho quickly scanned the players' faces. Unlike the Dortmund side, who seemed relaxed thanks to Klopp fumbling for his glasses on the pitch,

Luis Gustavo looked mentally shattered after conceding so early due to his own mistake in this crucial Pokal final.

Time to use what he'd learned from Barcelona and Lionel Messi in the Champions League quarterfinals.

After the restart, Jinho relentlessly targeted Gustavo's weakness.

Dortmund tore into the shaky Bayern, wrapping up the first half 3-1.

Leading 3-1 at halftime, Dortmund added two more in the second half for a solid 5-1 victory.

After the whistle, Dortmund's trophy ceremony began.

Trophy. Trophy!

Jinho stared at the Pokal cup with longing dripping from his face.

I have to hold back.

He desperately wanted to rush over and lift it, but memories of Boswingwa getting flak from Chelsea fans worldwide kept him in check.

Sebastian Kehl lifted it first, then Dortmund players took turns hoisting the trophy, celebrating their triumph.

While Dortmund basked in festival vibes with daily victory parades,

Bayern Munich's mood was heavy.

Gossip sites piled criticism on Jupp Heynckes after losing the league and now the Pokal to Dortmund.

Bayern, runners-up in both league and Pokal, issued interviews vowing full effort to escape trophyless via the Champions League, soothing the furious press.

Jinho had to admit it anew—they were indeed a powerhouse.

Calling one trophyless season "trophyless"? Tottenham would cry blood tears!

Anyway,

not the point.

"Chelsea can win the Champs!"

His mother-in-law started firing up her Chelsea fan circuits over Dortmund's win.

"Impossible!" "Nooo!" "No wayyyy!"

Seeing the familiar sight, Jinho nodded.

"Jino, why are you guys suddenly fighting?" "We're not 'guys'."

...Gyeowol really takes after her mom.