NOVEL WEB Chapter 154
The Community Shield against Wigan Athletic was nothing special. Even though Wigan was the defending FA Cup champion last season, they had suffered a drop to the second division after finishing 18th in the league, which meant their strength was halved.
With their weakened team, Wigan couldn’t handle the attacking trident of Ronaldo, van Persie, and me.
Well… even if Wigan weren’t weakened, stopping us wouldn’t have been easy.
Anyway, I started on the right wing, but according to Ferguson’s orders, I focused on moving centrally.
In defense, I dropped back to press the opposing players, while in attack, I made penetrating runs into the wings and the penalty box, delivering through balls aimed at Ronaldo and van Persie.
And occasionally, I fired long-range shots to draw the attention of Wigan’s players, aiming to chip away at their concentration.
Then, in the 34th minute of the first half.
“FIVE! No!”
A pass from Michael Carrick reached me, and one frustrated Wigan defender broke position.
Just a single defender leaving his spot.
But that one departure was enough to disrupt the tight defensive organization Wigan had maintained until then.
I easily faked a shot to bypass the Wigan defender. The center-back looked at me with a flustered expression.
The center-back must have had a chaotic mind, wondering if he should hold his position or rush out to stop me.
Being kind, I resolved the center-back’s dilemma for him.
I took advantage of Wigan’s players’ confusion and with a left footed outstep, launched a long-range shot.
‘That felt solid.’
In the moment of impact, I was certain I had scored my debut goal.
As I was about to rush to the corner flag to celebrate, I saw someone leaping much higher than Wigan’s defenders, showcasing a greed unlike anything else.
Smack─!
A dull cracking sound echoed across the field.
The ball, struck by his forehead and following a parabolic arc, fortunately rattled the Wigan net.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who had jumped into the air only to be shot down, beamed a bright smile as he ran to me after seeing the ball shake the net.
“Jinho. That was a fantastic cross, as expected, we are the strongest combo.”
My gaze shifted to Ronaldo’s flushed forehead. When I gently tapped it, questioning if it hurt, Ronaldo nodded and continued.
“However, next time, it would be great if you could control the strength of the cross.”
Ah, come on, Ho-woo!
—
Manchester United started the game with Ronaldo’s opening goal and netted a total of three goals in the first half.
The tide of the match had clearly shifted in favor of Manchester United.
Alex Ferguson replaced Son Jinho after the 20-minute mark in the second half. It was due to Son Jinho exhausting a lot of stamina covering for the aging Manchester United defenders.
[Ah, there will be a substitution. Son Jinho is done here.]
[Yes. He played the 70 minutes well, even though he was deployed as a right winger, which is not his main position.]
[That’s right. And above all, he recorded an assist, which is almost like a goal, right? It seems that moment will often come to mind.]
While the commentators desperately tried to stifle their laughter recalling Ronaldo’s goal,
Son Jinho exited the field to applause from Manchester United fans.
Replacing Son Jinho was Ryan Giggs, known to Korean football fans as “Mother-in-law” and “Deep Gigs.”
[The substituted Ryan Giggs. Giggs has also entered his forties now. I hope our pride, Son Jinho, can continue his career just like Ryan Giggs.]
└ What? Giggs is still active? LOL
└ Wow, what the hell, an active player in his forties;;
└ Ryan Giggs (40) LOL WTF
└ Stop the elder abuse!
└ Not just Giggs, but Ferdinand, Evra, and Vidic, all the starters are in their mid-thirties.
└ Manchester Old Age Home ;;;
└ Grandpa, come on, we need to get some defensive signings, too, even the attackers are aging, please!
While Giggs, who was finishing his career as a playing coach, demonstrated his skills just before the match ended by assisting a goal, Manchester United claimed a resounding 4-0 victory over Wigan.
—
[‘Champions of Victory’ Son Jinho wins the Community Shield just after transferring to Manchester United.]
[The goal-stealer of Son Jinho’s debut, that ‘game thief.’]
└ Hahaha LOL
└ It’s so funny that he’s smiling after scoring a goal, I’m pissed off but it’s hilarious?
└ What’s with that nickname ‘game thief’ LOL
└ As expected, entertainment is in the Premier League haha
[David Moyes, Everton manager, showing interest in Luke Shaw.]
[Alex Ferguson making an offer to Southampton’s Luke Shaw. Is he looking to sign a replacement for Evra?]
[Mourinho from Chelsea jumps into the battle for Luke Shaw’s transfer.]
[Transfer competition ignites with Everton – Manchester United – Chelsea? Just who is Luke Shaw?]
[Liverpool’s Suárez – Alexis Sánchez FC Barcelona. The trade goes through.]
[(Official) Sánchez transfers to Liverpool… “I will do my best.”]
—
A few days after winning the Community Shield, I received a message from my brother, who transferred to Dortmund.
– Hyung Hong-min: Hey.
– Ho-woo: Yup?
– Hyung Hong-min: Why aren’t you bragging about raising the trophy?
I was genuinely bewildered by Hyung Hong-min’s message.
– Ho-woo: ???
– Ho-woo: Does winning the Community Shield count as a trophy?
It was a question without malice, but perhaps Hyung Hong-min perceived it as an attack, as he stopped messaging me after that.
Well. Anyway, Hyung Hong-min showed impressive performances during the preseason, true to his reputation as the ‘Preseason Ronaldo.’
I heard from Jürgen Klopp that he was quickly adapting to Dortmund’s tactics.
– Jürgen Klopp: Jinho, if you have difficulty adapting in Manchester, feel free to come back anytime.
Of course, I was also adapting well to Manchester United.
Jisong and (surprisingly) Cristiano Ronaldo helped me a lot in acclimating to Manchester United.
When it became known that I was earning the highest wage in the team at the young age of 18, many players shot me jealous glares. However, once Cristiano Ronaldo showed respect towards me, other players began to acknowledge me as well.
I spent most of my time hanging out with Ronaldo and van Persie, and those who saw us would have expressions like, “What’s with those two?”
Yet, we had a strong bond.
It was responsibility.
“Hey. If even one of us three gets injured and misses the season, this season is done for us.”
Between van Persie, Ho-woo, and me.
We felt that if even one of us got injured, then Manchester United’s season would be over.
So we vowed to take great care of our bodies.
As we made our trio’s oath, August 17 approached, the opening day of the Premier League.
“Oh, thinking about it, isn’t Yook Manager also dead by now?”
—
– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: This season is different.
– Gyeouri: LOL
– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: What the hell are you laughing at?
– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: Now you’re ignoring your brother and even your nephew.
– Cheolmo: It’s funny because it makes no sense.
– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: Why doesn’t it make sense for Arsenal to win?
– Gyeouri: ;;; Uncle, why are you cursing at me?
– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: When did I curse?
– Gyeouri: (Picture.)
– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: That’s a typo.
– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: Anyway, why doesn’t it make sense for Arsenal to win?
– Gyeouri: Uncle.
– Gyeouri: Can Arsenal stop Son Jinho-naldo?
– Chairman Hwang Geum-soon: ….
– Cheolmo: Speaking of which, Manchester United has former Arsenal captain too.
[Chairman Hwang Geum-soon left the group chat.]
– Gyeouri: Wow. This isn’t my fault. It’s my mom’s fault.
—
Han Gyeouri sat down, struggling to calm her racing heart.
The match between Swansea City and Manchester United was about to begin for the 2013/2014 Premier League round 1.
Every year when a new season started, I always felt excited, but never like this season.
With her husband Son Jinho joining Manchester United and the return of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Han Gyeouri felt dreamy, as if she were dreaming at this moment.
“Winter, Jinho is in the starting lineup?”
“Of course he is!”
Her father, who wasn’t particularly interested in soccer, had agreed to look after Haeun during the match.
Han Gyeouri decided to watch the Manchester United match with her mother.
While Mrs. Hwang Mi-yeon prepared snacks in the kitchen, Han Gyeouri accessed a Korean community site on her smartphone.
After Son Jinho’s transfer, fans supporting Manchester United in Korea rapidly increased.
Korean soccer fans expressed their expectations for Son Jinho’s performance in the Premier League and his synergy with Cristiano Ronaldo.
[Let’s go, Son Jinho-naldo!]
[If Preseason Ronaldo joins in, it’ll be insane.]
[Preseason Ronaldo? Who’s that?]
[It’s Son Heung-min.]
[But today’s the Korean derby, why is no one mentioning it?]
[Ki Sung-yueng is starting on the bench.]
[Oh, I see.]
Han Gyeouri wrote a post on Ho-woo’s gallery after a long time. She had been busy with parenting since her daughter Haeun was born.
[Title: Hey there, long time no see!]
Posted by: Manchester United Doctor
[Title: But isn’t it dawn in Korea now? Aren’t you all working tomorrow?]
Posted by: Manchester United Doctor
The users in Ho-woo’s gallery warmly welcomed Han Gyeouri, who posted after a long time, with gentle blocks.
[Block Reason: Wide Area Attack, you bastard.]
While Han Gyeouri begged for the blocks to be lifted in the community, the starting lineup was announced, and the match was about to begin.
Manchester United revealed a different formation from the friendly matches and the Community Shield, deploying a diamond 4-4-2, with Son Jinho starting as the attacking midfielder.