[Sports Column] Park Helps United Advance to CL Final

Winning requires several conditions.

Has Cristiano Ronaldo has shown the most starring performance among members of Manchester United? That’s right. He’s really great. Ronaldo is a soccer artist and a man who guarantees victory.

United won the English Premier League for the second consecutive year and can also win the UEFA Champions League title. The team has shown good performance with its well-balanced team, but that’s not the end of the story. United has ambitious spirit, experience, a great attack, a devilish defense and outstanding midfielders.

Finally, United has Park Ji-sung. I’m happy since I don’t need to explain who Park Ji-sung is. Park will become the first Asian to play in the Champions League final, the most prestigious league in Europe. But I want to tell you why United Coach Alex Ferguson lets Park run as a starter in every match.

Park has three significant elements: impressive energy, driving force and sincerity. United has been stellar since his return from a knee injury.

Statistics prove it. The past two months could be compared to the final spurt of a marathon. Most players suffer from a lack of energy. Park, however, has started 10 of 11 matches since late March. Sometimes, he has even put his name on the list of a week’s best team, outdoing teammates Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo. Park was also chosen as one of his team’s best after wins against AS Roma in the Champions League quarterfinals and FC Barcelona in the semifinals. United has won all 10 games in which Park played, and lost the only match (against Chelsea) in which he did not.

Park’s energetic running does not explain everything. When he played for PSV Eindhoven, his coach Guss Hiddink described the midfielder as “a player with three lungs.”

Park ran 11.9 kilometers in the second leg of the Champions League semifinals. In the same match, teammates Michael Carrick and Carlos Tevez ran 11.6 kilometers and 10.9 kilometers, respectively.

Park appears wherever danger exists. He seems like a firefighter in knowing when a fire will break out. He always helps defenders and his scud threatens defenders on the opposing team.

He is not a successful shooter, but if he can score many goals, he will elicit comparisons to Ronaldo.

Park and Ronaldo are different players. Ronaldo is a tall and handsome guy whose elegant moves can come off as arrogant. On the other hand, Park is an energizer who invigorates his team.

Park might feel tired long before his contract with Nike expires in 2012. He will, however, surely start in the Champions League final against Chelsea Wednesday. Given Ferguson’s past record, Park will probably run in the final since he now plays an important role in a strong United team built by Ferguson over 22 years. Koreans can feel proud of Park’s unyielding spirit. I’m sure you shouted, “I trust you, Park Ji-sung!” in 2002 when Korea co-hosted the World Cup with Japan.

Will the Red Devils win in Moscow? I cannot guarantee their victory. Though Chelsea lost the Premier League title to United, Moscow will be full of footballers thirsty for victory.

ROBHU800@aol.com