Sir Alex Ferguson has rejected the theory Park Ji-Sung was signed
merely to increase Manchester United's popularity in the Far East.
Park arrived at Old Trafford for £4million in 2005 but
until this season rarely looked like establishing himself as part
of Ferguson's first-choice XI.
Undoubtedly, though, Park's United connection has brought the
Old Trafford outfit huge commercial spin-offs, with a million club
credit cards currently in use in South Korea and two hugely
successful pre-season trips to Seoul helping to cement them in the
country's affections.
For Ferguson, however, this was a peripheral issue.
Even though he left Park out of his squad completely for the
2008 Champions League final, the United boss always felt the
energetic midfielder - who first came to prominence with his
performances in a Champions League semi-final against AC Milan for
PSV Eindhoven in 2005 - had a major role to play for his team.
And now, in the system that fits Wayne Rooney so well,
Ferguson has found Park to be ideally suited as well.
"I didn't think that (Park was bought just to sell shirts),"
said the United boss.
"When I went to see him play in those Champions League
semi-finals for PSV Eindhoven in 2005 I thought this is a player
who understands football.
"He is intelligent and disciplined and he can play different
positions. I had no issues about that at all.
"Someone is always going to take a runner on something like
selling shirts. But you could say that about every player we have
signed."
Anyone heading to the club Megastore for a Park shirt on
Sunday was not doing it because of his nationality.
After scoring important goals against Arsenal and Milan
already this year, the 29-year-old added another to his tally,
hurling himself at Darren Fletcher's curling cross to give United a
vital victory over Liverpool.
"It was a great feeling to score against Liverpool," he said.
"Derby matches are very important games, so to score the winner in
one is a fantastic feeling. Doing it in front of the Stretford End
was unbelievable."
It was Park's 15th goal in 145 appearances for the Old
Trafford outfit and given Chelsea failed to beat Blackburn at Ewood
Park, gave his side priceless breathing space in the title race.
Given their goal difference advantage over second-placed
Arsenal, the Red Devils are aware six wins from their remaining
seven games, plus a draw from the crunch encounter with Chelsea at
Old Trafford on April 3, could be enough to give them an
unprecedented fourth championship on the trot and a 19th overall,
one more than Liverpool's long-standing record.
And Park is eager to help them.
"I want to score more goals for United and it doesn't matter
who they are against," he said. "I know I should score more goals.
I feel good scoring against the big teams like Arsenal, Milan and
Liverpool, but I want that experience more often."
