Park Ji-Sung: I’ve proved I
wasn’t bought just to sell Manchester United shirts
9 February 2012
PARK JI-SUNG is the latest proud
member of Manchester United’s 200-club having silenced those who claimed he was
only bought to sell shirts in the Far East.
The energetic midfielder
completed the milestone when he was introduced as a substitute in United’s
staggering comeback draw at Chelsea on Sunday.
It is not a bad effort from the
30-year-old considering how many times he has been forced out for extended
periods through injury since his bargain £2m arrival from PSV Eindhoven in
2005.
At the time, Park’s signing was
dismissed as an elaborate money-making venture by the Old Trafford money men.
Yet Sir Alex Ferguson always knew
the South Korean had the capacity to be a key figure in his plans.
“I am proud to reach this mark,”
said Park.
“I never thought I could play 200
matches for Manchester United.
“Some people did say those things
(shirt-seller) when I came here. Now no-one says it.
“I am very happy that I proved
Asian players can deal with the high levels of European football.”
Park was part of an odd trio of
close friends at United.
The sight of him engaged in
animated conversation with Patrice Evra and Carlos Tevez brought inevitable
questions about what language they communicated in.
Tevez has gone of course but the
observations of Park have been widened beyond mere curiosity to an appreciation
of his game.
His industry has never been
questioned. But with greater experience has come a calmness and game
appreciation even he wondered whether he was capable of when he left Asia for
Europe almost a decade ago, and then headed for the Premier League.
“Before I came here, I believed I
could do it but I wasn’t sure,” he said.
“But the manager believed in me.
He encouraged me to deal with these kinds of levels. He told me to fight.
“That made a big difference for
me to adapt to English football.”
Park’s return has been
impressive.
Since he has been at United, the
club have claimed four league titles – becoming the first South Korean to
collect a winners’ medal – three League Cups, the World Club Cup and the
Champions League.
Park was not in the match-day
squad for the latter triumph over Chelsea in Moscow four seasons ago.
However, he did play a pivotal
role in the semi-final victory against Barcelona, running a mammoth 19km to
help shut down Lionel Messi in the second leg at Old Trafford.
He has also made a remarkable
habit of scoring in matches against the biggest opposition, most recently in
the FA Cup defeat to Saturday’s visitors Liverpool.
Typically though, Park has no
desire to rest on his laurels.
“To make 200 games is brilliant,”
he said.
“I have a lot of good memories,
especially the days when I have lifted trophies. They are great feelings.
“But the atmosphere at Manchester
United is such that when you reach one point in your career, there is a
determination straight away to reach other goals and aims.
“That is why Manchester United
players want to lift trophies again and again.
“I know why their hunger is so
much to win titles. That is the mentality.”
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