Park's second chance

A year after what Sir Alex Ferguson called "the hardest decision of my life", Ji-sung Park is hoping to fulfill his dream of playing in the Champions League final.

Park was the unlucky player left out of the squad for the final against Chelsea last May. It's still referred to as the "Moscow nightmare" by the press in the winger's native Korea.

Sir Alex recently admitted the decision "broke his heart" and has already assured Park a place in his squad for the game against Barcelona in Rome.

But though he has enjoyed a successful, injury-free campaign for the champions, Park is taking nothing for granted ahead of Wednesday's European showpiece.

"This season has been my best since I joined United. We are champions and I’ve been part of the team," he told Sunday's papers.

"But I won't know until Wednesday whether I am playing, so I will do my best until the final.

"I had the summer to think about missing last season’s final, so when I came back for the new season I had forgotten about it because the future is different. I just believed that we could reach the

final again and hopefully this time I might be in the team."

If he is named in Sir Alex's starting XI – thereby becoming the first Asian player to appear a Champions League final – Park could be charged with shackling mercurial Barça forward Lionel Messi, which he did to great effect in last season's semi-final.

"The position I play in does not matter to me. Either side or in the middle, I will help the team to try to win the game," the 28-year-old added.

"It won't be easy, because Messi’s one of the best players in the world. But we have the experience of facing Barcelona last season, when we did well defensively, so we’ll think about that and concentrate to stop him.

"Barça are the best team in Spain and we are the best team in England so it will be a fantastic final."

Park's winning ambition

United need four points to secure another league title, but Ji-sung Park says he wants to win every game from now until the end of the season.

The South Korean, who’s scored in two of the last three fixtures, is determined to get his hands on the Barclays Premier League trophy this Saturday when the Reds meet Arsenal at Old Trafford.

For that to happen, United must beat Wigan Athletic on Wednesday night and take at least a point off the Gunners.

“I’m confident we’ll win the title,” Park told ManUtd.kr. “One win and one draw is enough for us but I want to win the rest of our games, starting at Wigan.

“No other team has a match on Wednesday – it’s our game in hand – so after we play there we’ll all have played 36 times. It’s a great opportunity to put a bigger gap between us and the other teams.”

The Reds’ winger played his part in the Reds’ most recent win, in the Manchester derby on Sunday. Park played an hour and even had an early opportunity to put the Reds ahead.

“I know I had a chance to score and that would been great, but I’m happy with the result. It’s always special to play in the derby and to win 2-0 was very good.”

Park raring to go

Ji-sung Park is refreshed and ready to give everything as United's bid to retain the Barclays Premier League and Champions League winds towards its climax.

The Korean was given two weeks on the sidelines by Sir Alex Ferguson after his recent international exertions, a move which proved a masterstroke as Park scored United's second goal at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

With four domestic games remaining and Tuesday's Champions League semi-final trip to Arsenal looming large, Park is relishing a busy end to the season.

"I always try 100 per cent to score and to help the team win," Park told MUTV. "There are just a few games left this season so I’ll give my all on the pitch.

"We’re in a great position but it’s not finished. We must try to concentrate until the end of the season. Every single game now is a final, so we must just keep trying to win."

Saturday's win at the Riverside was achieved with a number of key players rested as Sir Alex kept one eye on Tuesday's trip to the Emirates, and Ji says the Reds are in confident mood of reaching this month's final in Rome.

"Of course everybody’s confident that we can win," said Park.

Wednesday night’s (first-leg) performance was good and a few players will be refreshed for Tuesday, so we’re all confident.