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Footage Of Park Ji-Sung Marking Lionel Messi 'Proves It Wouldn't Make A Difference' After Sir Alex Ferguson's Claim

Footage Of Park Ji-Sung Marking Lionel Messi 'Proves It Wouldn't Make A Difference' After Sir Alex Ferguson's Claim

Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson insisted that he should have "changed at half-time and put Ji-sung Park on [Lionel] Messi."

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz

Manchester United hero Park Ji-sung might not have been able to man-mark Barcelona captain Lionel Messi in the way that Sir Alex Ferguson recently claimed.

Ferguson tasted defeat to Pep Guardiola's remarkable Barcelona team for the second time in a Champions League final in 2011.

United were dominated in their showdown at Wembley as Pedro, Lionel Messi and David Villa all scored in Barcelona's 3-1 Champions League triumph.

Speaking to Gary Neville as part of SPORTbible's interview, Ferguson admitted one of his biggest regrets was not using Park to neutralise Messi's threat on the pitch.

The legendary former United boss explained: "That's where I lost the final against Barcelona at Wembley.

"I should have changed at half-time and put Ji-sung Park on Messi. That was a mistake... I was going to do it at half-time, then I said, 'Well, we just equalised before half-time, they may see the game differently, we may grow into the game better.'

"We were actually quite good in the last 10 minutes of that half. We came into it and we could have been in front.

"But if I'd played Ji-sung Park against Messi, I think we'd have beat them. I really do."

Park was a fan-favourite at United and was widely remembered for his heroic work in man-marking Andrea Pirlo in the Champions League in 2010.

The former South Korea international started the 2011 Champions League final and was deployed out on the left by Ferguson.

PA
PA

However, even Ferguson's hindsight regret to use Park to man-mark Messi like he did Pirlo might not have been as effective as he suggested.

One fan uploaded to YouTube a video of Park 'following' the 33-year-old Argentine superstar during the clash at Wembley.

Despite the former United star showing his warrior mentality, the footage shows him struggling to read Messi's movements at times and contain him from finding his Barcelona teammates.

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"Park forgot that it's Messi and not Pirlo," one fan said.

Someone else wrote: "He tried, he really tried."

When one fan pointed to Ferguson's recent claim, another YouTube commenter hit back: "Looking at this shot video, I believe it wouldn't have made a difference. Pirlo was a distributor, Messi has passing range as well as dribbling. Not to mention Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta and [Sergio Busquets] in midfield to help him out."

And a fourth finally added: "[Did] you even see that goal from Messi? Park just couldn't follow Messi, he was just torn apart."

Featured Image Credit: LADbible TV/YouTube

Topics: Football, Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, UEFA, Premier League, England, Champions League, Spain, La Liga