Park Ji- sung’s Fergie memories

After reaching the World Cup semis, the Korean headed to England – and enjoyed some great duels with Andrea Pirlo

“TO STOP MILAN, WE HAD TO STOP PIRLO – AND TO DO THAT, I HAD TO CHASE HIM AROUND EVERYWHERE”

Did you always think you were going to be a professional footballer when you were growing up?

When I was a kid, becoming a professional footballer wasn’t really a popular ambition in Korea, but my dream was to one day play for the national team and play at a World Cup. When I moved to high school, our city had a professional football club, so I started as a ball boy with them, then began to dream of turning pro in the Korean league.

You signed for Japanese side Kyoto Purple Sanga in 2000, aged 19, while still studying at university. How did that come about?

It’s strange because, during that time, I was already in the South Korea Under- 23 team – back then, you could represent your country even if you didn’t play for a professional club. I received two offers from teams – Kyoto and another side. Kyoto offered little with regards to money, but I picked them as even though the pay was pretty low, the chance for me to play was really high.

What was it like to represent South Korea at a home World Cup in 2002, when you got to the semi- finals?

Playing at the World Cup was quite a different feeling to the previous year, when we played in the Confederations Cup. We took on France

in our opening group match and lost 5- 0, so lost a lot of confidence. We then managed to beat Mexico and Australia, and improved our confidence over the next year, as well as our quality. Just before the World Cup we played Scotland, England and France [ winning 4- 1, drawing 1- 1 and losing 3- 2 respectively] and those friendlies gave us belief that we could do something at the tournament.

After topping a group containing Portugal, South Korea then ousted Italy and Spain – how did you manage it?

It’s not easy to play teams like that and, to be honest, we never thought we were going to win those games. But we had nothing to lose, which gave us confidence. We met Italy in the last 16, when we’d already achieved our target of going beyond the group stage. I must add that we received so much support because we were one of the host countries. I can say, yes, it was a miracle to beat Italy 2- 1 and Spain on penalties.

You joined Manchester United from PSV in 2005, after a narrow defeat to Milan in the Champions League semi- finals. When did you first find out about United’s interest?

The first time my agent told me, I thought he was joking around! [ Laughs] I couldn’t believe that Manchester United wanted to sign me, and I couldn’t stop asking him if it was true. He kept on saying it and I still didn’t believe him. Then after the final game of the season, my agent phoned and said Sir Alex Ferguson was on the line. I took the call and spoke to him – only then did I start to believe that I’d be going to Manchester.

What can you remember about your first day at United?

I was whisked straight to the dressing room to meet the players. I particularly remember Ruud van Nistelrooy and Edwin van der Sar, because I’d come from the Dutch league – Van Nistelrooy had played for PSV and Van der Sar for Ajax. They were really kind to me and helped me to settle in quickly. I couldn’t get my head around the fact I’d joined Man United. Stood next to me were Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Roy Keane, Wayne Rooney... it felt like a dream. It actually was a dream for me – these were players I used to watch on television, and now I had to challenge them for a place in the team.

Did you ever experience Fergie’s hairdryer treatment, and what was it like?

Ferguson was a very strict man, even more so when we weren’t playing well. But I think he might have slowed down a bit just before

I arrived. I remember him being really upset one day and thought he was overdoing it, but then Van der Sar leant over and said, “This is nothing – he used to be a lot worse than he is now!” [ Laughs] For me, though, the hairdryer treatment was a good thing. It made some players wake up, and our performances in the second half of matches were often improved.

You scored 27 goals for United over seven years at Old Trafford. Which of them were your favourites?

I remember scoring in a 2- 1 win at home to Liverpool in 2010, and another goal when we beat Chelsea in the Champions League. There was also a 2- 1 win against Wolves [ pictured] where I got both our goals, and the second one was the last kick of the game. Not many players score the winner at Old Trafford with the last kick of the game, so those three stick out in my mind instantly.

You starred in a team featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez – just how good were they?

Wow. You know about their immense quality and enthusiasm – they had it all. They were unbelievable, and it was such an honour to play alongside those guys. For someone like me to be in the team, I had to find my level, work really hard, and keep giving them the ball so they could go and do their thing. Their attitude was incredible – you’d watch them score goal after goal, but they were always the last players to leave the training ground. They were that determined.

Andrea Pirlo compared you to a guard dog, because you were devoted to stopping him against Milan in the 2009- 10 Champions League last 16 and darted around ‘ at the speed of an electron’. Did you enjoy trying to thwart him?

Well, for me Pirlo was one of the best players of our time. We knew how they attacked, and it was through him. We knew he was the guy who created chances for them, so we needed to stop him. To do that, you had to follow him everywhere, or at least show up and ensure you forced him to pass backwards instead of forwards. It was always more dangerous if he passed forwards. In my head I kept thinking, ‘ Where’s Pirlo?’, because Ferguson would say that he wasn’t physically stronger than me, and he wasn’t faster. What he beats me with is his mind, so I had to keep him in my mind. Also, I have to say some of my team- mates constantly reminded me whenever I lost him by yelling “Where’s Pirlo?”, and I’d go looking for Pirlo! [ Laughs]

You’ve scored at three different World Cup finals – in 2002 against Portugal, in 2006 against France and in 2010 against Greece – how proud are you of that?

Come on, man… as a kid, all I ever wanted to do was play at a World Cup, and I ended up playing at three and scoring in each of them. That is stuff made in dreams. Also, perhaps I should remind you that whenever I scored at a World Cup, we never lost. I was like the magic wand! [ Laughs]