In a boost to young Indian footballers, Manchester United legend Park Ji-Sung, also United’s brand ambassador was at the Manchester United Soccer School Finals, in Bengaluru on Sunday. Speaking to this newspaper, Asia’s most decorated footballer opened about up his days at the Premier League club and on United’s struggling form. Excerpts:
On United’s form this season: It’s not been a good season for United. Sometimes they’ve performed well, sometimes they’ve been off and that’s not good for the team overall. When we do well we need to keep up the momentum and continue to do well. Hopefully, we can see them perform better in the last few games. It’s not just one problem for any team when they play badly. It’s an overall factor. It includes the coaching staff, the manager and the players. Teams go through bad phases, but then you need to regroup and everyone needs to give their 100 per cent to get through tough times.
On rumours that Jose Mourinho might join United: It’s the club’s decision. If he is needed then the club will bring him in. But nothing is sure. For the moment we need to focus on the current situation and then we need to show our quality on the pitch for every single match, and the players and manager need to put their full concentration on that and nothing else.
On ending his career early due to a knee injury: I don’t really have any regrets. I continued playing even after the injury for a while so I don’t have any regrets as such.
On his most memorable and disappointing moments: For me, my most memorable season would be the one where we won the 19th league title. The most upsetting would be when I played the quarter-finals and the semi-finals of the Champions League (2008) but didn’t play in the final. His (Ferguson) decision was right and I can’t complain but it was very hard for me. After the final he apologised to me and said “it was the hardest decision of his career” but things like this happen. It was hard for me as well as the manager. On Guus Hiddink’s effect on the Korean football: He is one of the best managers. He had a lot of impact on Korean football. We learnt a lot for him and changed a lot of things on the field after he joined the national team. He influenced the level of football a lot at Korea and helped bring up the standard.
On retiring in the Premier League instead of going to China or America like other players: I’ve played at a very high level at United. Then I took up QPR and then PSV offered me. It’s a good team. After playing such high level football at United, I felt happy when PSV offered me again. I saw no reason to reject and go to any other league. But after that my pain recurred so I did not continue to play, hence ended my career at premier league.
