Manchester United winning a 19th title is an unprecedented achievement, says Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs has admitted he never expected Manchester United to overhaul Liverpool's record of 18 league championships after victory over Chelsea yesterday left them just a point away from the club's 19th title.
Unbelievable: Ryan Giggs is thrilled that Manchester United are on the cup of getting one over their Liverpool rivals Photo: ACTION IMAGES
By Telegraph staff and agencies 8:31AM BST 09 May 2011
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Securing that lone point would see Giggs lay claim to a 12th career title, having been part of all the squads that have finished top during Sir Alex Ferguson's reign, a figure that will forcibly knock the Merseysiders from their perch, as the Scot famously vowed to do when he succeeded Ron Atkinson in 1986.
"Fifteen or 20 years ago, you'd never have thought it," said Giggs. "It's a great achievement by the team and the manager to haul back our biggest rivals over the 1970s, 80s and 90s."
Only needing a draw to keep Chelsea at bay, United made the perfect start when Javier Hernandez opened their account after just 36 seconds.
Captain Nemanja Vidic nodded home the hosts second midway through the opening period and although Frank Lampard pulled one back for Chelsea, they were unable to mount an effective comeback and could have been further adrift at the end.
The title has not been won yet, but the celebrations at the end, including Ferguson bowing to the Stretford End, left no one in any doubt it will be.
"Knowing the players, they won't muck it up," said Ferguson. "They will get the point. There is no doubt about that."
Derided so often this season, United have hit form at exactly the right time.
"The moment we won that first one in 1993, the door opened for us," reflected Ferguson. "To be involved every year after that is an incredible achievement.
"We got nervous at the end yesterday because we kept missing chances. We should have been out of sight. But that is the nature of Manchester United.
"We take it to the wire all the time. We give these poor souls in the stand heart attacks. They are sitting on the edge of their seats and biting their nails. I was one of them."
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