SIR Alex Ferguson said Manchester United will "bounce" into the Champions League final against Chelsea after pipping the Londoners to the Premier League title yesterday.
United won 2-0 at Wigan Athletic with goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and 34-year-old Ryan Giggs while Chelsea could only draw 1-1 at home with Bolton Wanderers.
It was Ferguson's tenth title in charge of United and a 17th for the club overall. A
s if to further prove the Scots longevity at the peak of the managerial game, it arrived on the 25th anniversary of the day he led Aberdeen to the Cup Winners' Cup by beating Real Madrid in Gothenburg.
The 66-year-old shows no signs of slowing down, either, judging by the way he greeted Giggs' goal in the second half, skipping down the touchline before running back to the technical area to jump into the arms of his coaching staff. He conceded he had endured a nervy afternoon. "It was a tough one alright," Ferguson said. "We had some nervous moments and when it started to rain anything can happen on the greasy surface. Then our oldest player, Ryan Giggs, ten medals, comes on and scores, fantastic."
Ferguson added that he thought his United side could pass Liverpool's record of 18 titles and that the current crop of players is probably the best he has ever had at the club. He also said he had no thoughts of retirement.
"If we win the Champions League I can say this is the best team I've ever had," Ferguson said. "I'm at a great club, it's much easier for me than everybody else. This is fantastic, how could I do without this, tell me? This side is young and developing all the time. The good thing is we'll be bouncing into the Champions League final."
Ferguson, asked if United's latest triumph reinforced his determination to carry on as manager, replied: "I am very proud to have survived so long but I am at a great club which makes it easier for me than the rest."
United might have been reduced to ten men in the first half when Paul Scholes, already on a yellow card, blocked off Wilson Palacios but referee Steve Bennett gave him a final warning instead.
"We were a bit lucky," acknowledged Ferguson of Scholes' escape. "The first tackle was reckless and he deserved to be booked but the second one was nothing."
Ferguson was pleased that his players had been able to maintain control of their own destiny.
He added: "We had to concentrate on our own game and I think we did that okay. Just after half-time we started to get a grip of it and I was pleased with that second goal."
Ronaldo put United ahead from the penalty spot in the first half after a nervy start from the champions.
"The pressure was high but we believed in ourselves and we deserved to win the Premier League," said the Portuguese who has bagged 41 goals in all competitions this season.
"I knew if I scored the penalty we would win the match, I'm very happy to help my team again."
Giggs, who equalled Sir Bobby Charlton's record of 758 appearances when he came on, drew more satisfaction from a tenth title winners medal. It was a great goal to settle us down – it gave us a two-goal cushion," he said.
"I said before the game that I am not bothered about records. This is what it is about, championships and trophies. I hope we can win another one in ten days' time."
Wayne Rooney said the players were all determined to win the title.
"We have got the hunger and we knew coming into the last two games that six points and we would be champions," said the England striker, who overcame a nagging groin injury to start for the first time since scoring against Chelsea in a 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge last month that jeopardised United's title hopes.
Rooney also paid tribute to Ferguson, describing him as "brilliant" and "determined". He added: "It's a privilege to play for him every week."
Rio Ferdinand said: "Credit to Wigan – they gave us a tough game today. It's just a fantastic feeling to win the trophy."
Wigan manager Steve Bruce believed Scholes was lucky not to be sent off, and the former Manchester United defender was also fuming over the penalty his side were denied and the one they conceded at the JJB Stadium. Ferdinand was not punished for what Bruce felt was a clear handball in the area in the first half with the game scoreless. United were then awarded a penalty following a challenge on Rooney.
Bruce, who had insisted his team would go flat out in a game that mattered little to them, said: "Paul Scholes will go down as one of United's greats. Everything about him is top, top drawer. He knows he got away with it today. Had it been any other day it was another yellow card and he should have been off.
"You should ask the referee about his integrity, not about my team.
"Thankfully there was nothing riding on it for us but I have to say three decisions in the first half were absolutely unbelievable. You would have thought Rio had gloves on and to say the penalty we conceded was harsh is an understatement."
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