Park optimistic QPR won’t get relegated

Park Ji-sung of Queens Park Rangers, who has been fighting to regain the spotlight, is confident about his improvement as the club’s desperate campaign to avoid relegation is moving toward the end.

“It has been a while since I last played,” Park told the club’s Web site (www.qpr.co.uk) yesterday. The 32-year-old Korean midfielder returned from more than a month-long absence for an English Premier League match against Southampton on March 2, in which he set up the winner in a 2-1 victory. He made a second straight start against Sunderland a week later, helping the team’s 3-1 victory.

It was the first back to back victory for the west London club league since 1995.

“As I play more, I think I will be able to get into better shape,” he said.

The recovery of the former Manchester United player comes as the league has only nine games left before deciding the three teams to be relegated. QPR is now at 23 points in 29 games, moving four points within 17th place Aston Villa. QPR will try further reducing the gap when it plays Aston Villa on Sunday morning Korean time.

“We all know that the upcoming matches are really important,” Park said.

Reading is ahead of QPR only on goal difference while Wigan is one point ahead. QPR will face off against Wigan on April 7 and Reading on April 28. The other six games QPR will play are against Fulham, Everton, Stoke, Arsenal, Newcastle and Liverpool.

Park said his team has a good chance to keep from getting relegated given the momentum in recent matches.

“We need to keep this momentum going until the end of the season,” he said.

By Moon Gwang-lip