MANCHESTER United won its 10th English Premier League (EPL) title in 16 years in Wigan on Sunday, getting a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo and another goal from Ryan Giggs to beat Wigan 2-0 on the final day of the season.

    The defending champion finished the 38-game season with 87 points, two more than Chelsea, which was held to a 1-1 draw by Bolton. The two sides will meet in Moscow on May 21 in the Champions League final.

    “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,” United manager Alex 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.”

    Ronaldo put United ahead in the 33rd minute from the penalty spot. With Chelsea in the lead against Bolton, United’s 1-0 advantage looked vulnerable in the face of a bold effort from Wigan.

    But Giggs brought a calmness to United’s midfield and then scored the vital second goal in the 80th minute when he accepted a pass from Wayne Rooney, took his time and then with his famous left foot rolled the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

    “Their goalkeeper made two or three saves and you say to yourself ‘hopefully we’ll get that second goal,’” said Ferguson afterwards. “And the oldest player, Ryan Giggs with 10 medals, gets it. It was fantastic that he got it. He’s a credit to the game.”

    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.”

    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.”

    Chelsea coach Avram Grant paid a tribute to Ferguson.

    “He is a great manager and a great person, I like him personally. It is amazing what he did.”

    Chelsea and United can now look forward to clashing in the all-English Champions League final, a match Grant said was a “dream.”

    Grant sidestepped questions over his future amid speculation that Dutch coach Frank Rijkaard, who is leaving Barcelona, or Russia coach Guus Hiddink, are being lined up to take over.

    Asked if he has discussed his position with Chelsea’s billionaire owner Roman Abramovich who was in the crowd Sunday, Grant said only that the Russian “wanted to come today and I was happy to see him today.”

    Grant said he would “wait and see” if captain John Terry will be for the Champions League showdown after he dislocated an elbow early in the Bolton match and had to be stretchered off.

    Terry was taken to hospital and he returned to the Bridge in time for the second half. “United is top of the league. But Moscow is a different story and we are aiming for that,” Terry said.

    (SD-Agencies)