Manchester United won a third title in a row on Saturday with a 0-0 draw against Arsenal that produced the point required to clinch their record-equalling 18th championship.
When Alex Ferguson took over at Old Trafford in 1986 he declared he wanted to knock the then dominant Liverpool “off their perch”, and his side has now matched their northwest rival’s title record.
“That was the target because they were the greatest side in the land,” Ferguson said. “But I never thought we could get 11 titles – never in a million years.”
The 67-year-old Scot said he had no plans to retire anytime soon.
“It makes you want to go on for ever,” Ferguson said.
Ryan Giggs has been part of United’s team for each of its 11 Premier League triumphs masterminded by Ferguson since the 1992-3 season.
“It’s been a special time at the club since the manager took over and we’ve managed to win so much,” Giggs said. “Hopefully we can carry on.”
Giggs won’t have long to wait for another medal. The Welshman can win a third European Cup – and deliver Ferguson’s 26th major trophy with United – in the May 27 final against Barcelona.
The draw put United out of reach of second-placed Liverpool, who are seven points behind with two games to play.
“It was the longest 90 minutes in history,” Ferguson said. “There was only one save in the match – it was a cautious match.”
Despite a lacklustre game, the final whistle set off a massive celebration at Old Trafford as the team was presented with the Premier League trophy on the field, with the players hugging and spraying champagne on each other.
The trophy was carried onto the pitch by four soldiers who have just returned from a four-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.
And as the medals were presented and fireworks exploded, the rain that had lashed onto the pitch throughout the match cleared and Old Trafford was bathed in sunshine.
The post-match focus was also on the players who might be leaving Old Trafford in the off-season, most notably Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo, who was denied a transfer to Real Madrid last summer.
When Tevez, whose two-year loan deal is about to expire, was substituted in the second half he applauded the fans and seemed to wave goodbye.
Asked if he was leaving the club, the Argentina striker said in broken English: “Maybe goodbye … It’s very difficult.”
Later fans, who have persistently chanted for Ferguson to sign Tevez up, staged a protest outside the directors’ entrance.
As for Ronaldo, the world player of the year was noncommittal when asked whether he was still eager to move on.
“The supporters screaming and singing your name, it’s amazing but the future you never know,” he said.
While United celebrated another title, the battle for survival goes on, although West Brom will go down if they lose at home to Liverpool on Sunday.
Middlesbrough have little chance of survival after throwing away a lead and being held 1-1 at home by Aston Villa, while Newcastle slipped back into the relegation zone after a 1-0 defeat at home to Fulham.
Hull moved out of the zone with a 1-1 draw at Bolton.
The results mean that Hull have 35 points, Newcastle 34, Middlesbrough 32 and West Brom 31 with three clubs to go down.
In other games, Everton came from behind to beat West Ham 3-1 with two goals from Louis Saha, Tottenham edged Manchester City 2-1 and Stoke maintained their impressive home form by beating Wigan 2-0.
Number of title wins for each of England’s champions after Manchester United secured the 2008/09 Premier League trophy on Saturday:
18 – Liverpool, Manchester United
13 – Arsenal
9 – Everton
7 – Aston Villa
6 – Sunderland
4 – Newcastle, Sheffield Wednesday
3 – Chelsea, Leeds, Wolverhampton, Huddersfield, Blackburn
2 – Derby, Preston, Tottenham, Manchester City, Burnley, Portsmouth
1 – Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest, Ipswich, West Bromwich Albion
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