Gritty Avram is still in with a real shot

Stir in the added notion that the 50th anniversary of the Munich disaster would make this a fitting and emotional triumph for United - not to mention the romantic notion of Ryan Giggs equalling Sir Bobby Charlton's club record with his 758th appearance against Wigan - and you could be persuaded to believe a nation will be rooting for the club who used to own the tag of 'England's most despised' to prevail over the current holders of said title.

But all this really won't do, will it? Forget the idea that United deserve this crown; they will only have deserved it if they negotiate a final test of their nerve at the JJB Stadium to keep at bay a Chelsea side who may not have been able to offer us delectations on the Rooney & Ronaldo scale but who have still demonstrated a magnificence all of their own.

We're talking about a rare brand of heart and resilience which has seen them doggedly hunt down what any other side could have been forgiven for recognising only as the uncatchable. It is a phenomenal spirit born in adversity when their season almost immediately threatened to descend into chaos after just a month following the sensational departure of Jose Mourinho.

That's why, for all of the romantic and historic plotlines cajoling United towards Fergie's 10th Premier League title, don't rule out one final, truly preposterous script; that is, barely known manager/chairman's puppet takes over from fans' idol, leaves players underwhelmed, is derided by supporters and yet still confounds everyone to win Premier League (and Champions League, too?) at first attempt.

If the Avram Grant story almost beggars belief now, just imagine how it will sound on Sunday evening if Chelsea have eked out a better result than United and snatched the title - it would have to rank as one of the most astounding achievements in the modern English game. One of the most improbable, too.

United, leading by an uncatchable goals difference margin, are not 6-1 on favourites for nothing. When someone asked Grant after Chelsea's win at Newcastle whether he might prefer his position to Ferguson's - that is, having a straightforward-looking home game against Bolton to finish rather than a potentially tricky derby, he just responded: "You can change it!?"

Of course he'd swop places with Fergie in a heartbeat. That's why all of the Chelsea mind games have taken on a slightly desperate air this week.

United, one suspects, can't be tripped up by Wigan but only by themselves - and Grant has reason to believe this shouldn't be ruled out.

Firstly, United's uneven form over the past month - of their last eight games, they've lost one (at Chelsea) and drawn three - have at times made them seem careworn.

Secondly, of the 11 League games that they've either drawn or lost this season, nine have been at the hands of teams no more forbidding than Wigan.

Thirdly, the idea that Steve Bruce would play Fergie's lapdog was always absurd. Quite the contrary, Wigan will try their socks off because the eyes of the sporting world will be fixed upon them.

Anyone fancy joining Kevin Keegan on his "boring, boring" rant? Didn't think so. It wasn't boring 40 years ago when, on the last occasion two teams in the top flight were locked on the same number of points going into the last game, a United side featuring George Best and Charlton lost to Sunderland and saw their neighbours City lift the crown; and it won't be boring as Sir Bobby bites his nails at the JJB.

"It will be so exciting," said Petr Cech. "I'm sure people will have pocket radios listening to the other game." Too right - and imagine how the dynamic of the title race could change should those trannies break the news at the JJB that Chelsea have scored early at the Bridge.

Then we would see if Ferguson is right about his class of 2008 having the champion's steel to be truly ranked alongside his greatest creations. They have been thrilling but if they fail this final test, Grant, a man who's already taught everyone that charisma isn't everything, can also remind us that titles have never been won on artistic impression alone.