Challenges Await QPR Captain Park After 5-0 Drubbing by Swansea /AP-Yonhap Park Ji-sung enjoyed a less-than-inauspicious debut with his new English Premier Club on Saturday as Queens Park Rangers were thrashed 5-0 by Swansea in their opening game of the season in front of 18,000 home fans at London's Loftus Road. Park started as a central midfielder and played the full 90 minutes, but the team suffered a shocking defeat, its first loss to the Welsh outfit in 19 home games. One hour before kick-off, QPR Manager Mark Hughes named Park as the captain for the new season. The former Manchester United stalwart ran himself ragged throughout the match as he dashed from either end of the field to help out with both offence and defense, but even his sharp passing skills were of little avail as the club's organizational deficiencies on the pitch were badly exposed and taken advantage of. Park has been used to winning in previous seasons as he has spent the last decade with two notoriously strong sides in the form of United and PSV Eindhoven. But QPR, which was promoted to the Premier League last season, remains a relegation risk this year despite several impressive acquisitions including Park and Jose Bosingwa from Chelsea. QPR's stated goal this season is to finish in the middle of the table. The team expects the kind of leadership from Park that can inspire teammates who are used to losing. Park will start again in the next match against Norwich on Saturday.
