History beckons for national hero Park

Manchester United FC's fate in the UEFA Champions League final will have repercussions far beyond Moscow, London or Manchester. Ji-Sung Park, United's midfielder from the Republic of Korea, says that the majority of his country's 49m population will tune in on Wednesday to see whether he can become the first Korean to succeed on Europe's biggest stage against Chelsea FC.

Big audience
"It is a huge game back home and I would say most of the people in Korea can watch it on TV," said Park. "The game will be on live and although the kick-off time there is midnight, I think a lot of people will be watching."

Mr Popular
While Park appreciates his popularity in his homeland, his focus is playing a part in the fortunes of the 'Republic of Mancunia'. "Being in Manchester United is pretty huge back home, so I walk on the street and people recognise me," he said. "It can be difficult. I would say most people knew Manchester United before, but since I came here even more do. But there's no pressure on me as I'm ready to enjoy this final. I always think about the team because football is not about individuals, it is about teams."

Confidence
Park's third season at Old Trafford may have been reduced by injuries, but he contributed to United's Premier League title triumph by making 12 appearances and has started their last four European ties. Now the former PSV Eindhoven and Kyoto Sanga FC player wishes to embellish the campaign further with continental success. "This team wants to make its own history," the 27-year-old said. "We have young players and we have experienced players which is a very good mixture. We have kept improving every season. We have more confidence because we won the league and maybe that makes things a little bit different for Chelsea too."

Korean double
A United win would secure not only a famous double for Sir Alex Ferguson but also a rare one-two for the game in South Korea. His international team-mate Kim Dong Jin played as a substitute in FC Zenit St. Petersburg's UEFA Cup final victory and Park hopes to follow suit in the European Champion Clubs' Cup. "I met the Zenit boys the day before their final, wished them luck and then watched the match," Park explained. "They got the title and I've now congratulated them. A Korean double is possible, it is likely to happen. We'll try to do it."

'Fantastic professional'
But will those viewers keeping vigil from South Korea on ESPN STAR Sports catch more than just a glimpse of their hero? According to Sir Alex, the answer is yes. "He has a big chance of being there," the manager said of Park's selection prospects. "He has played in most of the games recently. He is a fantastic professional, dedicated and a good footballer with good intelligence. That is why I use him a lot – his movement and running off the ball is very, very good."