This Premier League title was always theirs to lose, and Sir Alex Ferguson just does not do lost titles very often.

Victory in the Champions League final will confirm his status among the game's immortals, but he now has 10 good reasons to join that exclusive club.

No manager will ever lift 10 Premier League titles again. His side's 2-0 victory over Wigan rendered Chelsea's 1-1 result at home to Bolton academic.

With poetic justice, Ferguson's best player, Cristiano Ronaldo, steadied the nerves, and his most experienced player, Ryan Giggs, added the coup de grace.

Thankfully, United secured the title without an asterisk; their superior goal difference was not required.

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Despite having experience in their corner, United were uncharacteristically disjointed in the opening minutes, with Jason Koumas carving open space through United's jittery defence before shooting tamely.

Over at Stamford Bridge, the atmosphere was more muted - reflective even - particularly when the Blues lost their leader in the 14th minute. In an aerial collision, John Terry's elbow was crushed by the knee of Petr Cech.

Terry went off on a stretcher, the thought of missing the Champions League final surely more painful than the actual injury. Frank Lampard tentatively took over the armband and Roman Abramovich bit any remaining fingernails down to their stubs.

The eyes are the window to the soul and the Russian billionaire's designer sunglasses did nothing to shield his apprehension; he looked terrified. Within 15 minutes, the advantage had swung forcefully back to United.

The Red Devils were slowly coming to grips with the atrocious playing surface at Wigan. In the 25th minute, they were awarded a free kick. Only one man bothered to step up.

The puffed cheeks, the cowboy stance and the steely-eyed glare were in evidence, as always, but Ronaldo's driven strike was well parried by Chris Kirkland.

On the half-hour mark, the deceptive humid conditions gave way to familiar Lancastrian showers. The gathering clouds proved ominous for Wigan.

Just a minute later, they were a goal down. A sputtering United attack was petering out when Emmerson Boyce skipped along the greasy surface and clattered clumsily into Wayne Rooney.

The penalty was the easiest of decisions.

Ronaldo stared down Kirkland, hands on hips, and wiped the rain off his nose. He jogged towards the ball.

Sportsmen are made in such moments. Justice would not allow Ronaldo to miss.

Like a dad fooling his toddler in the park, the United winger nonchalantly sent Kirkland the wrong way for goal No41.

Ronaldo raised his arms and nodded prophetically again. This was his date with destiny and he was not prepared to be stood up.

Ferguson danced in the drizzle, United were singing in the rain.

At Stamford Bridge, the long balls being pumped into Didier Drogba's direction already smacked of desperation against a cynical, physical Bolton.

At half-time, United were champions by two points.

Ronaldo almost made it two in the 53rd minute, rising unmarked at a corner to send a bullet header just wide.

Kirkland's fingertips denied Rooney after a mazy run just moments later.

At Chelsea, Andriy Shevchenko, thrown on by Avram Grant, struggled to break down Bolton's obdurate defence.

So, naturally, Chelsea's forgotten striker, the man likely to be off-loaded in the post-season, broke the deadlock.

Lampard's shot was clearly going wide, until the veteran predator diverted the ball home with his shin in the 62nd minute.

The Blues barely had time to celebrate when Cech denied El-Hadji Diouf from point-blank range in the six-yard box. Chelsea fans could barely watch.

Moments later, personal history was made at Wigan, as Ryan Giggs came on to equal Bobby Charlton's club record of 758 appearances.

With nine titles already under his belt, Giggs' calming influence was timely; the stomach-churning tension at both stadiums was palpable.

Then the Hollywood scriptwriters intervened to pen a glorious finale.

Rooney cut inside from the left flank in the 80th minute, slipped a pass between Wigan's two dozing centre-backs to ... well, who do you think?

On his 758th appearance, Giggs side-footed the ball past Kirkland and secured the 10th title for himself and his mentor.

The world had witnessed one surprising plot twist; there would not be enough time for a second. Matt Taylor scored a late equaliser for Bolton to calm any remaining United nerves.

For Grant, the Champions League final in Moscow offers redemption. For Ferguson - restoration. With the home front secure, Ferguson's burgeoning empire is now primed for the final push in Europe.

stsports@sph.com.sg

MIND GAMES

'We are bouncing into the final. If we lost today, we would have been dead.'
FERGUSON, taking a jibe at Chelsea ahead of the Champions League final