Fergie's finest - now champions United set their sights on Moscow

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a first-half penalty but, fittingly, it was Ryan Giggs, equalling Sir Bobby Charlton's appearance record of 758 games, who sealed the 2-0 win at Wigan that secured the title by two points as Chelsea drew 1-1 at home to Bolton.

Perfect 10: Cristiano Ronaldo holds the trophy aloft after United's decisive victory at Wigan

United and Chelsea will meet again in Moscow in the Champions League Final on Wednesday week and Ferguson said: "If we win the Champions League you will have to say this is the best team. I think it would have to be judged that way because they are so young.

"The players are developing and they all play without fear. You watch them and know that your fate is in safe hands. They are so exciting to watch. This squad is definitely the best. I brought 26 players here today and they all deserved to be here.

"We are bouncing into the Champions League Final now. If we had lost the title today it would have been difficult to go into that game. When we lost the title at West Ham in 1995 we went into the FA Cup Final and we were dead. We were flat and we lost to Everton. But we are not dead this time — we are alive."

Rio bravo: The game wasn't without its contentious moments

United had some help from referee Steve Bennett, who gave them a controversial penalty, failed to spot a handball in the area by Rio Ferdinand and then chose not to send off Paul Scholes for what seemed a second bookable offence.

Those three incidents came in a 15-minute period that essentially decided the game and Wigan manager Steve Bruce could not hide his anger. Former United captain Bruce said: "You should ask the referee about his integrity. Dear, oh dear, oh dear. The three decisions in the first half were absolutely unbelievable.

"The Ferdinand one was the most surprising. He may as well have been wearing gloves. And Paul Scholes knows he got away with it today and the penalty against us was also very harsh. In fact, that is an understatement."

Medal of honour: Ryan Giggs celebrates yet another league success

Ferguson admitted that Scholes may have been fortunate but the United manager already has his eyes set on further glories. First up is the Champions League Final and then he will set his sights of winning the 18th title that would tie United with Liverpool.

Asked about his future plans, Ferguson said: "How would I be without this, please tell me? My wife won't let me retire. She bullies me out of the house every morning. She is a formidable woman.

"The 18th title will come. This team is a good young one and has plenty of years left.

"I was a bit worried about Scholesy. He has ridden his luck a little bit. The first one was reckless, the second just a shove. So I don't think it merited a booking.

What it's all about: Sir Alex leaps with joy

"It was a difficult one for us today. It was an away game and that made it difficult. We had some nervous moments and then the rain came and anything could have happened then. We started to get a grip of it after half-time.

"I was thinking: 'Please give me the second goal' and then our oldest player got me that second goal — it was fantastic."

United through and through: Sir Bobby Charlton and Ryan Giggs

Charlton, 70, whose record has stood for 35 years, was full of praise for Giggs. He said: 'He's fantastic. He's a great athlete, a great person, a great footballer and nobody deserves to break records like he does. I'm really proud of him."

Giggs, 34, said: "A two-goal cushion made us a lot more comfortable, I am not bothered about records, this is what it is about, championships. It's great to get a 10th, but let's hope we can get another trophy in Moscow."

Champagne party: Tevez gets caught in a shower of fizz

Chelsea manager Avram Grant was gracious after seeing his side's late challenge fall agonisingly short. He said: "I want to congratulate Manchester United. Sir Alex is a great manager and a great person. To win 10 league titles is amazing."

UNITED'S TITLE BY NUMBERS

10 titles for Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson since the Premier League was launched 16 years ago.

758 United appearances for Ryan Giggs, equalling the club record set by Sir Bobby Charlton.

41 goals for Cristiano Ronaldo this season, including 31 in the Premier League.

76,013 fans attended United's final home game against West Ham, the biggest gate anywhere in the League.

11 goals scored against Newcastle as United registered their biggest home and away wins of the season, 6-0 and 5-1 respectively.

2,187,859 fans have been through the turnstiles at Old Trafford to watch United in all competitions this season.

3 red cards in total, handed out to Cristiano Ronaldo, Tomasz Kuszczak and Nani.

6 games in which United have failed to score in all competitions, compared to 30 clean sheets.

5 defeats means United lost more games than any of their top-four rivals.

2.1 goals a game on average, with United hitting the net 80 times in 38 Premier League outings.