Park Backs United

Former South Korea and Manchester United midfielder Park Ji Sung believes that Manchester United can win the title next season. He said that there are signs that the team has clicked together and that they will be able to challenge all the way for the title.

However, he admitted that the next Premier League season would not be easy with at least five teams capable of challenging for the title. But he believes that Jose Mourinho has the necessary experience and that he will inculcate a winning mentality within the team.

Park Ji Sung said that he still follows Manchester United game whenever he has time and that he believes that this could be their season. He admitted that things have not been really good at Manchester United ever since Sir Alex Ferguson retired but he feels that things are beginning to change gradually. The latest odds at https://sport.netbet.co.uk/live-betting/ have United as one of the favourites to win the title, behind just Champions Chelsea in the rankings.

He believes that Jose Mourinho has a great plan for the club and that he knows what kind of players he needs. However, he admitted that the departure of Wayne Rooney could be quite difficult to handle as he was such a character in the dressing room. "It will be difficult for Manchester United to cope with the departure of two players such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney. They were leaders on and off the pitch, and it is up to the younger players to rise to the occasion and make sure they bring glory to the team."

Park Ji Sung said that it is also wonderful for the team to be back in the Champions League. He believes that the fans have been disappointed to have missed this great competition in recent seasons and that they will be happy to be back among the elite group of European clubs that participate in the tournament.

Park retired from the game in 2014 but to date he remains such an influential force in Korean football, and as a pundit on United, ever since World Cup 2002. Park was at the tournament the country hosted with Japan and Park, 19 then, was impressive in the game against Portugal that sent the group beyond the group stage – even local fans expected the team to falter!

The nation eventually reached the last four, even as many other top footballing nations fell by the road side. To date no other Asian side has come close to this feat. Even top European sides [Read: for example England] dream of finishing in the top four at a World Cup event.

The ‘small boy’ was soon standing toe to toe with the biggest names in club football. He was in contention for the best forward – the first time for an Asian. Then Manchester United came calling and Park became the second Asian star to play for the Red Devils after Dong Fangzhuo, and became a Legend overnight.

His fitness earned him the tag: “Three Lungs Park.” He played 200 matches and won 13 trophies before he left Old Trafford.