Ji-sung Park insists United will head
into tonight's Champions League final with more belief than
Chelsea after pipping them to the Premier League
title.
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech suggested an edge may be missing
from the Reds’ game in Moscow following the title triumph, but Park
reckons it will have the opposite effect.
The Korean midfielder declared: “We are far more confident after
winning the title. Having lost the league, that might make a
difference to Chelsea.
“We’ve done one job and everyone feels good – now we’re looking
forward to the final.”
Park was a Champions League semi-finalist with PSV Eindhoven in
2005 and has impressed for United since returning from injury at
Christmas, yet he admits still has his doubters – although Sir Alex
Ferguson isn’t one of them.
The Reds boss paid a glowing tribute to his livewire winger’s
professionalism last week and said he had a “big chance” of being
in the side on Wednesday.
Park continued: “I proved my ability with PSV but some people
still think Asian players aren’t good enough to play in Europe. For
me it’s always challenging to prove them wrong.
“When I first came to United I had to prove my ability. Now
everyone knows I’m not just here to sell shirts!
“I wasn’t playing at the start of the season because of my
injury, so that made it hard. But since I have been back I
have improved and now I feel 100 per cent. I’m enjoying playing
with my team-mates and I am so happy to be in the team.”
Park is his country’s number one sportsman but insists the
thought of performing in front of millions of fans back home won’t
affect him come kick-off in the Luzhniki Stadium.
“It’s a huge game and most Korean people will be watching on
television, even though the game will be on in the early hours of
the morning,” he said.
