Park has enjoyed a great deal of success since
signing for the Red Devils in 2005 but he suffered a low in 2008
when he was completely overlooked for the Champions League
final.
Despite being one of the most industrious players in Sir Alex
Ferguson's squad, Park did not even make the bench for the Moscow
shoot-out triumph against Chelsea.
Coveted back home, and loved in Holland, where he performed well
for Guus Hiddink at PSV Eindhoven before being lured to Old
Trafford by Sir Alex Ferguson, it would have been easy for Park to
throw in the towel.
Instead he just approached his task with renewed vigour.
"That night was a big disappointment for me," recalled the
29-year-old.
"I didn't want to leave because I felt I could do more to make
it at United. That is why I stayed.
"I felt it would eventually happen and I believed we would reach
another Champions League final, I just didn't expect it to be the
following year."
Although Park finished a loser in Rome as United's hopes of
retaining the trophy were wrecked by Barcelona, at least by being
part of the squad he silenced some of the doubters who claimed he
had only been bought because of his commercial value.
Having made two highly successful trips to Seoul since Park
joined the club, United have certainly gained far in excess of the
£4million they paid for the midfielder.
But Park denies he is a trophy asset.
"I didn't get a sense of just being signed for commercial
reasons," he said.
"I wanted to show that Asian players could make it in Europe.
But it was far more important for me just to become a better
player. That is why I came to Europe from Asia.
"I do not think of myself as a standard bearer for Asian
players. I just try to work hard for myself.
"Once I became more famous I was proud that people in Asia
started to look towards me. All the Asian people respect me and
watch me.
"But I don't want people to think of me as an Asian player. I am
just a football player."
The reception Park receives when he goes home would rival
anything David Beckham can generate in the UK.
He admits it can be slightly unnerving at times, although he
finds earning his living half a world away provides a pretty
significant buffer.
"Everything I do is watched," he said.
"It happened before I came to Manchester United but once I got
here the scrutiny because even greater.
"All the games are live and lots of people watch them early in
the morning.
"But when you are in England it is easy to deal with the
attention. The people in Korea can't chase me all over the place
here.
"I don't notice how excited they are. I can deal with that."
Park can also deal with the plaudits that have been heaped on
him recently by Ferguson, who views the South Korean as one of the
major beneficiaries of his new attacking system, with Wayne Rooney
as a lone front-man.
Scepticism in the stands has also been erased, along with the
self-doubt that Park carried as baggage when he first arrived at
Old Trafford.
"I feel better about being at Manchester United," he said.
"When I first came I was a little bit worried that I would not
be a success. But that always happens.
"You never know you are going to succeed until you have.
"What I was going to do at the time was more important. I just
tried to do my best and once I started training I totally forgot
about my concerns.
"Now I feel quite confident. Mentally I am in a good place.
"The fans have also been supporting me. It makes me more assured
about showing my ability on the pitch."
While Park is hoping to face Liverpool, Owen Hargreaves could
make his long-awaited comeback on Thursday for the reserves at
Altrincham, where they will meet Burnley.
The midfielder was due to have a run-out last week but that
failed to come to fruition as the club said the game did not fit in
with his training schedule.
Hargreaves been sidelined since September 2008 following surgery
on a knee injury.
