We'll win it next year

Nani admitted United felt desperately disappointed after so narrowly missing out on the Barclays Premier League title, but he is adamant that the Reds will be back stronger and even more determined to win the trophy back in 2010/11.

 Chelsea finished a point above the Reds this season, but Nani says the Reds rued missed opportunities to overtake the Blues during the run-in.

“We are disappointed,” he told MUTV. “We were so close. We had a lot of chances to win the league [but didn’t take them]. Against Chelsea at home we didn’t win and that was the game that we lost the league.

“We hoped for the best result for us today, but it didn’t happen. Chelsea did so well this season and we were 90 per cent sure that they would win against Wigan. When Chelsea scored the Stoke fans celebrated all their goals and we knew what was going on.”

But despite the disappointment, Nani was not wholly downbeat. “We still have to be confident about next season,” he added. “Next year we will be fantastic because we will show that we are strong and we will work hard. We did so well and it was quite equal between ourselves and Chelsea. You could say we deserved to win the title as well. But we have to forget about this and think about next season.

“We’ll be strong next season. United is a very strong club, we have a very strong mentality. We didn’t win the league this season, but next time we will.”

We'll be back

Sir Alex Ferguson was gracious but defiant after his hopes of a fourth consecutive title were crushed by Carlo Ancelotti's free-scoring Chelsea.

United's rivals beat Wigan Athletic 8-0 at home, to render academic the Reds' own emphatic 4-0 win over Stoke City at Old Trafford. "I didn't know what the Chelsea score was [in the second half]. But at half-time I accepted they were going to be champions," Sir Alex told MUTV.

Gary Caldwell's red card and Frank Lampard's subsequent penalty conversion put Chelsea 2-0 up after 32 minutes and meant the rest of the afternoon's activity largely a formality. "We felt it would be difficult for Wigan to get something and when we heard they were down to ten men, all our hopes evaporated," Sir Alex added. "We applaud Chelsea. We know how hard it is to win the title - it's the hardest league in the world and we've won it for the last three years. I congratulate Carlo Ancelotti on a wonderful achievement. He's a good manager and a good guy."

But Sir Alex quickly turns his thoughts to challenging for the 2010/11 championship. "We won the last three titles," he said. "That was fantastic and the players have been great. We'll come back next year, that's exactly what Manchester United do."

Earlier, the manager was on the pitch for his traditional end-of-season speech to the fans. "The players and the supporters have always been magnificent and you've been magnificent again. We can be proud that we've challenged hard for a fourth title in a row. Next season we'll go again and bring back the title to the best place in the world."

United have a day to ferget

MANCHESTER UNITED'S season ended in bitter disappointment and demonstrations yesterday.

Alex Ferguson's side lost the title at Old Trafford as the fans protested once again against the Glazers, the hugely unpopular owners.

Before the match the club's megastore had a smoke bomb set off in it, fans tried to storm the directors' entrance, while a plane flew above the ground carrying a banner saying 'Glazers out'.

And all Fergie has to show for his 24th season in charge at United is the Carling Cup.

Plus he had to suffer defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals and an FA Cup exit at the hands of League One Leeds.

Now Fergie admits he may have to plunder the transfer market to regain the title next season.

He said: "Did I always make the right team selections with the appropriate tactics? Do we have a strong enough squad?

"I have to weigh up whether to move into the transfer market, considering our own youth development and our players.

"It's an assessment that has to be set against injuries, bad luck and the fact there is a harder competitive edge in the League these days."

United sunk Stoke 4-0 thanks to Darren Fletcher, Ryan Giggs, Ji-Sung Park and an own goal.

But Chelsea crushed Wigan 8-0 to win the title by a point.