Park Ji-sung Makes History in Press Appearance
Korean soccer star Park Ji-sung has gone through many ups and downs since he joined Manchester United, one of the most prestigious soccer teams in the world, on July 8, 2005. But it seems that those vicissitudes were nothing more than the prelude to glory that has awaited him in his third season on the English Premiere League team.
Park represented Manchester, a team of “soccer geniuses,” at a press conference on Tuesday, ahead of a Thursday match with Italy’s AS Roma in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final. His appearance marked a new chapter in Korean soccer history — Park is the first Korean soccer player to have spoken at a press conference for the Champions League.
The press conference appearance also serves as testimony to Park’s increased status on the team. The Korean player has played in only eight Champions League matches in his last three seasons.
What’s more, Park has mastered the English language in just five years after moving to Europe. He confidently answered reporters from all over Europe in English without an interpreter. And his answers showed his abundant pride to be playing for Manchester.
Asked if he thinks the current Manchester squad is the best since he joined the team, he said, “In a couple of matches we’ve changed the team around but still got good results. We have a good squad. Players get injured and we have other strong players to come in. Yes, I think it’s the best squad.”
To another question asking if he believes that his team can win the Champions League, he answered with confidence, “We can win the league as well (as the Champions League). We can do the double.”