Former MU Pallister Sees More Asian Players Heading For Europe

By Mohd Khairul Azfar KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- Former Manchester United legendary defender, Gary Andrew Pallister, believes that more Asian players will be heading to clubs in Europe soon. He said he had observed Malaysian and other football teams in the region, saying that they were on the right track to achieve success if they kept on focusing well. Pallister told Bernama this on the Hop On Hop Off Bus during a parade held in conjunction with the launch of Maybankard Manchester United Visa Card, here Friday. He reckoned that with the success of Asian players such as Manchester United's Park Ji-sung, Borussia Dortmund's Shinji Kagawa and Bolton's Lee Chung-yong, many clubs in the world were now on the lookout for "the next big thing" in the region. Meanwhile, he said Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was still relevant to the club and should stay on because the players, management and supporters were behind him. "To me, he's a genius with a great spirit and always hungry for a new challenge. That hunger is still there after all these years and that's why he should stay on for another few years," Pallister said. He also praised newcomers to Manchester United such as Phil Jones, Ashley Young and David De Gea, saying that they had done well this season. Pallister said the players were still young and had great prospects with the team. On the ongoing racism investigation over remarks allegedly made by Chelsea's John Terry against Anton Ferdinand of Queens Park Rangers, he said this would not affect the Barclays Premier League as well as the Manchester United squad. -- BERNAMA