Sir Alex Ferguson has taken time out from his summer holiday to ring Park Ji-Sung to offer the South Korea captain encouragement ahead of Saturday’s World Cup last 16 clash with Uruguay.
Manchester United winger Park, speaking at a pre-match press conference here on Friday, revealed: “Yes of course Sir Alex has been in touch, not only him but others from the Manchester United coaching staff.
“They’ve wished me a good game and told me not to get hurt!”
Park believes this 2010 South Korean team could be the best vintage ever produced by the Asian giants, even surpassing in quality the side that made it to the 2002 semi-finals on home turf.
“I believe this is the best team in our history. We’re still improving, but hopefully by the end of this World Cup we will be able to say it is better than in 2002.
“This is the first time we’ve made it into the second round on foreign soil, and with Japan making it too this proves how much Asian football has grown.”
En route to Saturday’s date with Uruguay at Port Elizabeth’s Nelson Mandela Bay stadium South Korea were whipped 4-1 by Argentina, a defeat Park suggested would help them.
“We did lose to Argentina but that was a good chance for us to learn how to fight against a Latin American team. It was good experience for us and gave us insight into how to cope with Uruguay.
“Each continent has its own flavour, its own characteristics, the south American sides have shown great individual strength, we need to come up with a different plan to beat them.”
Park has established himself as a fine captain of his country, leading not only by his form with a goal in the opening 2-0 win over Greece, but also his man management skills.
South Korea coach Huh Jung-Moo praised his skipper, saying: “The burden I gave him was good for Korean football and good for the future, I am more than satisfied with how he has coped being captain.
“He’s doing a great job as leader, in the way he interacts with both his superiors and subordinates, and in his level of play. He’s been doing wonderfully.”
Park himself when invited to explain his leadership style added: “All of the players are professionals, they know what’s expected of them. All I can do is help to prepare then in the most comfortable way possible.”
His goal against Greece was his third in a World Cup after a brace in 2006, and he said he was intent on adding to that tally against Uruguay.
“The fact that I’ve been able to score for my country is a great honour, to be able to do that not only in one game but three different games is fantastic, it’s helped the team a lot. I want to do my best and I want to experience the same feeling by scoring again tomorrow.”
He was then asked by a Korean journalist to confirm a rumour that after the wipe out by Argentina he had prepared breakfast for his teammates the following morning.
“No, that’s not true at all,” laughed Park, before leaving the press conference to go and prepare to dish up the latest surprise at this feast of football.
