Wigan Athletic (0) 0 Manchester United (1) 2
How gloriously appropriate that Manchester United's match-winners yesterday, the men who swept them to a deserved Premier League title, were Cristiano Ronaldo, the Footballer of the Year, and Ryan Giggs, the embodiment of all that is good about this special club.
No fear tempers the movement of Ronaldo or Giggs, such thrilling creatures of sustained invention, such magnificent ambassadors for Sir Alex Ferguson's attacking game-plan. These heirs to the sporting tradition of George Best certainly delivered for United yesterday, Ronaldo with a ruthless penalty and Giggs with a nerveless finish.
Any newcomers to footballing circles seeking guidance about United's personality need pointing only in the direction of their goalscorers on a triumphant day in the thunder, rain and lightning. United mix the cocksure swagger of Ronaldo and the loyalty of Giggs.
Anyone questioning whether United were worthy winners of the trophy also needed pointing towards Ronaldo and Giggs. These are the individuals who quicken the pulse, who fill grounds with admirers and hearts with hope. These are the talents who make inflated ticket prices worthwhile, who turn all those long motorway journeys into reverie on wheels.
If Ronaldo acted the spoilt child at times yesterday, slamming his palms against the pitch like a Portuguese Violet Elizabeth if the referee did not agree with him, then Giggs was all grace. Coming off the bench to help United protect a lead secured by Ronaldo, Giggs celebrated equalling Sir Bobby Charlton's record of 758 appearances for United with a fine finish, sliding the ball calmly past the outstanding Chris Kirkland.
As the final whistle went, as Wayne Rooney sank to his knees and Ronaldo looked to the heavens, Rio Ferdinand led the fans' singing. "That boy Giggsy - he won it 10 times," chanted Ferdinand with the visiting hordes, jubilating in the winger's astonishing number of titles.
Afterwards, Ferguson made a fascinating remark about Giggs, saying he was worried about the deluge's effect on the pitch and that the "soft ground" might not suit Giggs, as if he were some thoroughbred racehorse.
As Ferguson and all of a red hue revelled in the moment, thoughts needed sparing for two vanquished, but admirable blue-bedecked adversaries, Wigan Athletic and first Chelsea. After Liverpool and then Arsenal fell away, Avram Grant's side stopped a title race becoming a procession. Chelsea deserve widespread praise for giving the season's last gleaming such an epic glow.
As well as knowing they themselves gave everything, Chelsea's players can also take comfort from the knowledge that Wigan ran themselves into their sodden new pitch. Wigan had only pride to play for but did themselves, the town and the Premier League proud.
Of course, suggestions of collusion were always going to be wide of the mark. Anyone who genuinely believed that Steve Bruce might be tempted to tell his players to go easy on his former club clearly does not know what makes the Wigan manager tick. He did not acquire a nose sculpted like Scafell Pike without being committed, without giving everything at every occasion. Every Wigan player and fan breathed defiance against their famous visitors before, sportingly, staying on to salute the champions.
Kirkland excelled in goal. In midfield, Wilson Palacios embellished his reputation. Bruce also enhanced his standing as a man of integrity and a manager of substance.
Rocked back by the hunger of Bruce's players, United were desperately lucky to turn around a goal clear and with a full complement. When thunder and lightning reverberated around the JJB Stadium, it could have emanated from Ferguson such was his animated mood. Marcus Bent found the side-netting, Emmerson Boyce shot over, Michael Brown shot wide.
The locals loved it, willing Wigan on as United laboured. It took a defensive mistake, Boyce's awkward challenge on Rooney, to allow the champions through. Steve Bennett pointed immediately to the spot, and Ronaldo took control. He had missed against Barcelona. He had every Wigan fan screaming blue murder at him.
But he is not the double Player of the Year for nothing, and he calmly slotted the ball to Kirkland's left and set off on a long celebratory run. As a roar emerged from the visitors' end, pandemonium reigned in the main stand where pockets of United fans revealed themselves.
Wigan's mood hardly improved when Scholes flew in on Palacios. Already booked for a foul on the Wigan midfielder, Scholes resembled a hot-headed teenager, rather than an experienced thirtysomething, as he dumped Palacios on the pitch. Amazingly, Bennett contented himself with a lengthy lecture of Scholes.
If Chelsea had a legitimate grievance yesterday, it was with Bennett, who then denied Wigan a penalty when Ferdinand handled Jason Koumas' shot. Yet United could also point out that Titus Bramble went in rashly on Scholes, but Bennett deemed it legal.
United impressed as the second half opened. Nemanja Vidic headed wide. Kirkland defied Rooney and Carlos Tevez. Then came news of Andrei Shevchenko's goal. United hesitated and Wigan went for the jugular as if it were they who were in contention for the title.
Ferguson rang the changes, and Giggs' arrival proved inspired. As the ball hit the net, Ferguson danced down the touchline like a grandfather late on at a family wedding. The party began.
Chelsea fans will claim Paul Scholes was lucky not to be sent off against Wigan. He was booked by Steve Bennett after 13 minutes for a poor challenge on Wilson Palacios.
Nine minutes before the break the referee issued a final warning after Scholes blocked Palacios' run down the right side, but showed leniency. Sir Alex Ferguson took him off midway through the second half.
Labels: Alex Ferguson, Chelsea, Cristiano Ronaldo, Liga Inglesa, Manchester United, Premiership, Ryan Giggs
