By Chris Harvey Last updated: 11th May 2008
Ryan Giggs collects the Premier League trophy
If we win the European Cup it has to be the best team. We are bouncing into the final now.
Sir Alex Ferguson
Quotes of the week
Sir Alex Ferguson has challenged his Premier League title winners to show they are Manchester United's best-ever team by winning the UEFA Champions League.
As United celebrated another title triumph, boss Ferguson was already looking forward to their date with Chelsea in Moscow on 21st May.
When asked by Sky Sports whether this was his best ever side, Ferguson responded: "If we win the European Cup it has to be the best team. We are bouncing into the final now."
United retained the Premier League title after a 2-0 win over Wigan secured by a first-half penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo and a second-half clincher by substitute Ryan Giggs.
Chelsea could only manage a 1-1 draw against Bolton at Stamford Bridge and Ferguson was quick to remind them who has the psychological advantage ahead of the Champions League showdown.
"If we had lost the title today it would have been a great knock but the great thing is we are bouncing into the final," Ferguson said.
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."
Ferguson, who has won 10 titles during his reign, also predicted that the current United side will overhaul Liverpool's overall total of 18 titles. United now have 17.
"I think it will come. This side is young. This side is young. There is plenty left in them."
Ferguson admitted that Wigan had given United a stern test on their way to a title-clinching victory.
He continued: "It was a tough one all right. For most of the game we played well but there were some nervous moments."
United might have been reduced to 10 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. "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. It makes it 10 (title medals) today for Ryan Giggs which is fantastic."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 10th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Aston Villa vs West Brom |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man City |
| 17:30 | Stoke vs Liverpool |
| Sunday 11th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Wigan vs Tottenham |
| 16:00 | Man Utd vs Chelsea |
| Wednesday 14th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Man Utd vs Wigan |
| Saturday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Newcastle |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Wigan |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | West Brom vs Middlesbrough |
| 17:30 | Hull vs Arsenal |
| Sunday 18th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | West Ham vs Fulham |
| 16:00 | Tottenham vs Portsmouth |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 30th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 0 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Monday 29th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 1 - 0 Middlesbrough | |
| Sunday 28th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 2 - 2 Man City | |
| Fulham 2 - 2 Chelsea | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Everton 3 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Arsenal 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| West Brom 2 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Bolton 0 - 1 Wigan | |
| Newcastle 1 - 5 Liverpool | |
| Friday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 2 Arsenal | |
| Liverpool 3 - 0 Bolton | |
| Wigan 2 - 1 Newcastle | |
| Middlesbrough 0 - 1 Everton | |
| Man City 5 - 1 Hull | |
| Sunderland 0 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Portsmouth 1 - 4 West Ham | |
| Tottenham 0 - 0 Fulham | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 West Brom | |
| Stoke 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 20 | 45 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 20 | 42 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 18 | 38 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 20 | 38 |
| 5 | Arsenal | 20 | 35 |
| 6 | Everton | 20 | 32 |
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