MANCHESTER // A week today the UAE will be playing one of the most important matches in their history and they will be up against a Manchester United player who will be trying to set an example to Asian players wanting to follow in his footsteps. Ji-sung Park endured the acute disappointment of being left out of Sir Alex Ferguson's squad for the Champions League final last May, another blow in a United career that has been blighted by injury.
But Park refused to let that get him down and he forced his way back into Ferguson's side at Chelsea last month, scoring the goal that looked like giving United victory at Stamford Bridge before Salomon Kalou levelled. After three frustrating years at Old Trafford since his £4million (Dh27m) move from PSV Eindhoven, the 27-year-old midfielder is desperately hoping that game in London will be the start of long-term success with United.
For, while many sceptics believe Park is primarily of value to the Red Devils for the shirt sales he can generate in his homeland, the Seoul-born player has his own personal reasons to prove he is good enough to wear the famous red shirt. "I am quite famous in my country," admitted Park. "Asian players want to play in Europe and I play for Manchester United, which is one of the biggest clubs in the world. It means they want to be like me. I have to try to do well and prove myself on the pitch so that other Asian players believe they too can play for big clubs in Europe."
Park is among a trio of Koreans plying their trade in England's top flight. Kim Do-Heon and Seol Ki-Hyeon are popular figures at West Brom and Fulham and regularly chat with Park, even if the sheer geographical spread of the compatriots means opportunities to meet up in person are rare. "I want to meet the other Korean players for lunch or dinner but it is quite a long way to West Bromwich and London from Manchester," said Park. "But we speak on the phone quite often, so that helps."
Now fully recovered from the knee injury that kept him out of the Beijing Olympics, Park has joined up with the South Korean squad for their two matches over the international break. Korea face Uzbekistan in a friendly on Saturday before tackling the UAE in a World Cup qualifier which must be won given the strong South Korea side only managed a tame draw with neighbours North Korea last month. "That draw was not the best result, so we have to put it right," he said.
"But we are confident we will qualify. "The Korean team is quite strong in Asia. We have to show that strength and hopefully we will be okay." * PA Sport
