Man Utd clinch 10th Premier League title

WIGAN, England (AP) -- Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson insists that no team can dominate English soccer.

United's 10th Premier League title in 16 years may prove otherwise -- even ahead of his team's all-English Champions League final against Chelsea on May 21 in Moscow.

The defending champions retained their title Sunday after beating Wigan 2-0 on the final day of the season to edge Chelsea by two points.

"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. "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 finished the 38-game season with 87 points, two more than Chelsea, which was held to a 1-1 draw by Bolton.

Cristiano Ronaldo put United ahead in the 33rd minute from the penalty spot and Ryan Giggs slotted in the second in the 80th after coming off the bench in the second half to match Bobby Charlton's club-record of 758 games.

"It was a great goal to settle us down. It gave us a two-goal cushion," Giggs said after raising the trophy with artificial flames flickering behind and fireworks exploding around the stadium. "I am not bothered about records. This is what it is about, championships and trophies.

"I hope we can win another one in 10 days' time."

Charlton, who survived the 1958 Munich air disaster which decimated Matt Busby's team, celebrated Giggs' goal in the directors box at the JJB Stadium.

"He's fantastic," Charlton said after going down to the field to embrace the players. "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," Charlton added. "I've forgotten about the record already."

Giggs can overtake Charlton against Chelsea in the Champions League final.

Wigan formed a guard of honor as the jubilant Red Devils returned after the final whistle. But despite being managed by former United captain Steve Bruce, Wigan was tenacious Sunday.

"It was a tough one all right," Ferguson said. "For most of the game we played well but there were some nervous moments. We had to concentrate on our own game and I think we did that OK."

Bruce criticized the referee for failing to give Wigan a penalty before awarding one to United.

"I think you should ask the referee about his integrity," the Wigan manager said. "Thankfully for us there was nothing riding on it ... but the decisions were horrendous, blatant and unbelievable."

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