Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung insists possession counts for
nothing in the modern game unless it can be converted into shots on
goal.
United secured a precious away win at Stamford Bridge last week in
the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Chelsea
despite only having 46% of the ball.
It follows a trend started by Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan last
term, who were content to let Barcelona pass the ball around during
their semi-final but denying them any space to exhibit their attacking
skills.
At Old Trafford, United would normally be expected to take the
match to their visitors. But Park has warned Red Devils fans that might
not necessarily be the case.
"Possession is not important," said the former South Korea star.
"What is important is how many chances you create, or how many
shots on target you have. The other team having the ball in front of us
is not a big problem. We just watch and wait. If we press, then get the
ball, we can play on the counter-attack."
United will go into the second leg in good heart, having maintained
their seven-point advantage over nearest Premier League challengers
Arsenal over the weekend.
Park was rested for the 2-0 win over Fulham, which gave the clearest
hint yet that he will return on Tuesday.
The energetic 30-year-old tends to reserve his most effective
performances for the biggest matches.
He was one of United's standout performers last week even though it was
only his second game back after two months on the sidelines with a
hamstring problem.
"I try to play well in every single match, not only against Chelsea or Arsenal," he said.
"But big games feel different and I like those kind of feelings. I
feel stronger and more powerful. Perhaps that's why I can show my
performance better than in other games."
Park will not be on his own in returning.
Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Edwin van der Sar are certain starters
too as United look to seal a last-four meeting, almost certainly with
German challengers Schalke, in a fortnight.
"Chelsea have played a lot of games at Old Trafford and they won
here in the league last season, so perhaps they are better than any
other team," said Park.
"But we know Chelsea as well. We can't think about what happened
last week. The second leg is totally different and could be a different
result, so we are focused on what we can do. If we play as well as
usual, then we can win. This season at Old Trafford our performances
have been unbelievable. Hopefully we can keep doing that."
Carlo Ancelotti has shrugged off the overwhelming weight of history
against his Chelsea side completing an extraordinary Champions League
comeback.
The Blues boss urged his players to believe sincerely they could
become the first team ever to knock United out of Europe having lost
the first leg of a tie at home.
Only two clubs have ever produced an equivalent turnaround in the
Champions League but Ancelotti has insisted there is no reason why
Chelsea could not become the third at Old Trafford.
The Italian said: "In Italy, we have a saying. 'If you have two,
then you next have three'. They have to truly believe that we can win
there. I don't know if they will be able to do this. But, at the start
of the game, you have to believe that you can win."
Ancelotti knows his side need to produce a near-flawless
performance at Old Trafford if they are to overturn Wednesday night's
1-0 first-leg defeat at Stamford Bridge.
"To win there, you have to do 100% in everything," he said.
"And not just 100%, but you have to use personality, courage, you have to control the game."
Fernando Torres is expected to be given the nod on Tuesday, despite
the £50million man extending his now-infamous goal drought to 817
minutes.
Source: DSG