I'LL BE BACK ... Fergie insists he will reclaim United's crown
ALEX FERGUSON congratulated Carlo Ancelotti for winning the 'hardest league in the world'.
Then he warned the Chelsea manager he would claim the title back next season.
Despite beating Stoke 4-0 yesterday, the Blues stopped Manchester United from bagging their fourth Premier League title in a row.
Old Trafford boss Ferguson said: "This is the hardest league in the world to win and we applaud Chelsea for winning it.
Wayne Rooney with his Player of the Season trophy
Manchester United fans protest against the club's owners
"We have won it the last three years so we know how hard it is. So I congratulate Carlo who is a good manager and a good guy. Of course we'll be back next year - that is what Manchester United do.
"Next year we will go again and try and bring back the title to the best place in the world."
Fergie said he had given up on a final-day upset when he heard Chelsea were 2-0 up at half-time and Wigan had a man sent off - the Blues went on to add another six goals.
He said: "I think it was always going to be a hard ask to expect Wigan to get something and when they went down to 10 men all our hopes evaporated."
Ferguson claimed the title race could have hinged on a decision by Martin Atkinson to allow John Terry's 76th-minute winner in November when Wes Brown had been fouled in the area.
The Scot said: "Many things you could talk about, crucially the decision down at Stamford Bridge was a bad one against us."
But it seemed the disappointment of going out of the Champions League to Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals still hurt more.
Ferguson said: "I look at the European Cup and that was a big disappointment. We should have been in the final because we were the better team and just did not have the luck on the night."
Despite only having the Carling Cup to show for their efforts this year, Ferguson still tried to claim that United have had a good season.
Darren Fletcher and Robert Huth
He said: "How you view the season depends on whether you focus on the low moments or look at the positives.
"It's the old conundrum as to whether you see the glass as half empty or half full!
"My job as manager is to assess and analyse in the cold light of day and get things into perspective.
"It's not complacency, just common sense to conclude we have had a good season that has not been without its rewards.
"It could have been better but overall we are finishing in good shape." Ferguson believes United have still played entertaining football despite many believing they have been nowhere near their form of the previous two seasons.
He said: "I have to separate fact from fiction, like the suggestion we have not seen the vintage football associated with Manchester United.
"It is a tougher and more competitive league nowadays and it is not easy to impose the kind of football we all want to see against every opposing team.
"I have got to say that I have enjoyed watching a lot of our football - and I am not easy to please."
Ferguson pointed out the development of a number of players at the club as a reason for United supporters to look forward positively to next season.
He said: "Darren Fletcher has emerged from the shadows to become recognised as a really top footballer.
Wayne Rooney and Glenn Whelan
Andy Wilkinson and Dimitar Berbatov
Rory Delap and Ryan Giggs
"Nani has come of age, Darron Gibson has has a good season and Jonny Evans has been fantastic for a 21-year-old while Antonio Valencia has done incredibly well in his first season.
"Behind them I have great faith in the futures of players like Danny Welbeck, Federico Macheda, Javier Hernandez, Gabriel Obertan, Mame Diouf and Chris Smalling.
"There is a great expectancy at Manchester United. I have no problem with that demand, but we should remember that when I arrived at Old Trafford, Liverpool were winning the championship on a regular basis while we had gone 20 years without the title. We changed all that.
"As for this season, taking everything into account, we are on the credit side.
"It has been something of a rollercoaster but then it usually is - losing twice to Chelsea certainly ranks as a huge disappointment.
"There have also been some outstanding achievements and thrilling matches."
Wayne Rooney missed out on the Prem's Golden Boot to Didier Drogba but his 34 goals in all competitions helped to fill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ferguson said: "I always knew we would miss Cristiano and the way Wayne stepped up has been thrilling."
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