Sir Alex Ferguson lays down challenge for title-winners

The celebrations at the JJB Stadium had hardly begun when Sir Alex Ferguson laid down a challenge for his Premier League-winning side. Beat Chelsea in the Champions League final in ten day's time, he said, and they must rank as his best side ever.

The United manager had just seen his side retain the title by beating Wigan Athletic 2-0 thanks to goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs, which put them two points clear of Chelsea - who drew 1-1 with Bolton Wanderers - in the final standings.

"The great thing is we’re bouncing into the [Champions League] final," he said. "We can look forward to it. If we’d lost the title today, it would have been difficult. When we lost the title at West Ham in 1995, we lost the FA Cup final the following week. We were dead then. We’re not dead now, we’re alive. If we win the European Cup, this has to be my best team."

After a game in which his side played below their best against a tough Wigan team, Ferguson reserved special praise for Giggs, who came on as a second half substitute to equal Sir Bobby Charlton's record number of 758 club appearances,

“It was a tough one all right and being away from home today made it more difficult," he said. "For most of the game we played well. There were some nervous moments and then the rain came and we were wondering what’s going to happen now, because anything can happen on a rainy surface.

"Just after half-time we started to get a grip. We missed a few chances and the goalkeeper made some great saves. I was saying to myself, “Please give us that second goal.” Of course, my oldest player, ten medals today, gets it – Ryan Giggs. Fantastic."

Ferguson pointed to a victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup fifth round as the turning point in the season, saying that it knocked the confidence of Arsene Wenger's young side after they had led the league for most of the first half of the season.

"It ebbed and flowed a bit. Arsenal, for long periods, looked like they were going to win it. Then they dropped a few points after we knocked them out of the FA Cup and that told for them. We then dropped a few points at Blackburn and Middlesbrough and that allowed Chelsea to close right in. But the two points they dropped against Wigan probably won the title for us."

Ferguson admitted his pride at winning a tenth league triumph as United manager. "I’m very proud. Proud to have survived for so long. It’s a great club and it’s much easier for me than it is for anyone else. How would I do without this? Tell me."

He added that he felt the club had the foundations to go on and emulate Liverpool's record of 18 titles. "I think it will come. This side’s young. It’s developing all the time. It’s a good young team and there are plenty of years left in them. They’ll do it in their own time."

Giggs played down the significance of equalling Charlton's record, an achievement he is almost certain to surpass in the Champions League final in Moscow. With Charlton watching the match in the directors box at the JJB Stadium, Giggs said: "That doesn't come into it. Championships are what it's all about."

Charlton, however, who came on to the field to embrace the team afterwards, did not hold back in his praise of the Welshman. "He's fantastic," he said. "He's a great athlete, a great person, a great footballer and nobody deserves to break records like he does. His record with Manchester United is unbelievable and I'm really proud of him. I've forgotten about the record already."

Ronaldo scored United's first goal from the penalty spot. After a campaign in which he was named the player of season and acclaimed by many as the best in the world, he too was keen to deflect personal praise. "I'm very, very happy. We deserved it," Ronaldo said. "I think we have the best team in the Premier League. They set up opportunities for me and I just try to score them."