JI-SUNG PARK was walking off the field on Wednesday night when the Stretford End saluted their hero to the tune of Achy Breaky Heart.

"And if you sell my Park, my lovely Ji-Sung Park, you're gonna have a riot on your hands."

United supporters love that song and so does Park, confirmation that he's considered one of Old Trafford's star turns.

"It's an honour for me when they sing it," admitted Park during a rare interview in the build up to today's Premier League clash with Fulham.

"When they sing it I get energy from the fans and I want to show them my response."

His exhilarating performance against Milan earned him a gold star from Sir Alex Ferguson, man of the match as the team cantered into the quarter-finals.

When Park plays, so do United. Since December they have scored 35 goals in 14 games with the South Korean in the side, slipping through the gears as the season reaches its final stages.

"Historically, United get better as the season progresses and we have improved already," claimed Park.

"Against Milan, we proved we have the team to win the Champions League this year."

Park has been earning praise, shackling Milan's man in the middle Andrea Pirlo in the San Siro and then finishing the job at Old Trafford.

He has a big part to play in this United team, focusing on a Champions League winner's medal after the agony of Moscow in 2008.

Then he was omitted from the squad, squeezed out of the team as United went on to lift the European Cup after a dramatic penalty shoot-out against Chelsea.

"I was happy we won the Champions League, but personally I wasn't happy to miss out on playing," he revealed.

"I didn't play in 2008 and won. The last thing left for me is to play and win the Champions League because I played in 2009 and we lost.

"Everyone wants to be involved in the Champions League final and 2008 was very difficult to take. Being left out was hard."

He was in the team to face Barcelona in Rome last year, lining up alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs and Anderson in United's midfield.

They were easily beaten, unable to cope with the speed of Barcelona's movement off the ball and the brilliance of Lionel Messi.

United have moved on, recovering from the sale of Ronaldo and refining the team as Ferguson targets a fourth successive Premier League title and a return to the Champions League final.

"Historically United have always had big players, but when they want to leave the team carries on," added Park.

"They lose players, but keep winning titles. Ronaldo was a big part of our team, but we know how to recover.

"When we lose big players, as we have in the past, we remain a great team.

"When we lost Ronaldo someone will replace him. Wayne Rooney has scored a lot of goals, but we don't rely just on him.

"He scores a lot of goals because people work hard around him. He has support from 10 other players.

"If he scores 40 or 50, he is scoring for the team. He can beat Ronaldo's 42 one day. Maybe he can do it this season. If not, he will do it next."

Park is a new breed of United player, hassling and hurrying opponents on the field, a reluctant hero off it.

Alongside Darren Fletcher, the midfielder is now one of the first names on Ferguson's team sheet for big games, a model of consistency at Manchester United.

"The manager knows my strengths and that's why he chooses me for the biggest games," he added.

"Sometimes I miss the big games, but it really depends on the type of opponents we play.

"Often I'm in the team for tactical reasons, but it all depends on the style of the team we are playing."

Park is popular with his manager and his team-mates, often singled out for his match-winning interventions.

Few have played Milan's World Cup winner Pirlo any better, stifling his creative talents when United stepped it up.

Ferguson singled out Park after Wednesday's 4-0 win, underlining his importance to the team and praising his hardworking midfielder.

Park's game has improved, accustomed to the rigours of English football after five years playing in the Premier League.

His experience at PSV Eindhoven sharpened his senses, a soft target for the supporters when he arrived in Europe.

"The first season with PSV I wasn't good enough and everyone blamed me for the results.

"The fans booed me. It was difficult to get through that period, but then I showed my ability and I performed."

Their run to the Champions League semi-final under Guus Hiddnk was enough for United, signing for United in a deal worth just £4m in 2005.

Park has repaid them, adapting to English culture after escaping the Beckham-style bedlam that surrounds him whenever he returns to Seoul.

Then it's on with the sunglasses and peaked cap, hoping to escape the clutches of his country's starry-eyed supporters.

South Korea's captain is still hot property, 84 caps and counting as his team prepares for this summer's World Cup finals.

"I like it here because in South Korea my reputation is high and everyone chases me around," he added.

"Here I can walk around without a cap or sunglasses and I can concentrate solely on my football.

"Seoul is such a bustling city, everyone walks around so quickly. England is quite calm by comparison, but I like both countries. I like the mix - for me it's good.

"United is a big part of my fame and reputation, but I'm playing for the biggest club in the world.

"I don't like to be considered famous. I can deal with it, but it all feels very uncomfortable for me.

"Everyone in Seoul recognizes me and I can't concentrate on what I'm doing. When I read the newspapers and read the internet, everyone is talking about me."

He is the talk of Old Trafford again, making an enormous impact on the team during an extended run of good form.

This afternoon he will aim to transfer it back to the Premier League when United attempt to put Fulham away.

They lost 3-0 at Craven Cottage in December and yet the title could swing United's way in today's return fixture.

"They are always tough opponents, but playing at Old Trafford is totally different for teams.

"We know that if we win our remaining nine games of the season we are champions. It's that simple."

Then it will be party time, with Park first on the songsheet.