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| June 17, 2006 | Saturday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 20, 1427 |
I’m no Rooney, says Korean playmaker
BERGISCH-GLADBACH, June 16: South Korea's Park Ji-sung laughed off comparisons with England striker Wayne Rooney on Friday, saying: “I’m not world class”.
Park was influential in South Korea's 2-1 win over Togo in their World Cup opener but modestly denied he was as important to the side as his Manchester United team mate Rooney is to England.
“There's a big difference between me and Rooney,” South Korea's playmaker told reporters.
“He's just 20 years old and it is unbelievable how special he is.
“He's got physical power and he's strong technically as well.”
Park added: “I'm not a superstar. I don't think I'm world class. I'm a better player than before I came to Manchester United but I still need to do many things to improve.”
Asked about Rooney's rapid return from a broken metatarsal, Park said he was surprised how sharp Rooney looked when he came on in Thursday's England's 2-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago.
“It was a surprise he came back so quickly,” smiled Park.
“But when I saw him on TV he looked physically fit. He just needs time because he hasn't played for seven weeks. He's getting there.”
Park played a key role in South Korea's amazing run to the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup as co-hosts with Japan.—Reuters
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