Ferguson welcomes threat posed by City

Ferguson was happy to join in the immediate celebrations at championship No 19, getting doused in champagne as the revelry began at overtaking Liverpool as England’s most successful club.

The Manchester United manager even afforded journalists the rare luxury of a post-match press conference to offer his thoughts on the achievement.

However, it was not long before he had moved on to the next challenge. To Barcelona in the Champions League final at Wembley on May 28, and beyond that, to another championship fight, when City, flushed from ending a 35-year trophy drought and laden with cash, are bound to be a factor.

“I will not be taking it easy because we have won the title,” he pledged.

“The ambition of the club doesn’t alter. It doesn’t go away. That is the responsibility as manager of Manchester United.

“You always expect Liverpool to challenge us. You always expect Manchester City to challenge us.

“The great thing about us is that we accept challenges. It doesn’t matter where it comes from.

“Our job is to get better and we will try to be better next year.”

There are a few issues for Ferguson to resolve.

Although chief executive David Gill did not name the goalkeeper identified to replace retiring Edwin van der Sar in an interview with Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme, it is widely thought to be Atletico Madrid’s David de Gea. A couple of additional new faces are anticipated, including Wesley Sneijder, while Ferguson also confirmed the likely return from loan of Danny Welbeck, Tom Cleverley and Mame Biram Diouf from Sunderland, Wigan and Blackburn respectively.

A decision by Paul Scholes about his future is awaited though, with Gill not entirely convinced the veteran midfielder will extend his stay at Old Trafford.

“It wouldn’t surprise us if Paul Scholes retired,” said Gill.

“On the other hand, we are enjoying the success we are having, so at the end of the season, he will have a conversation with Sir Alex about that.

“I am sure he will let us know his decision and we will respect it.

“He has been a brilliant player for many years.

“It is interesting that while Ryan (Giggs) got his 12th title, that was Paul’s 10th.

“It shows what he has achieved for us and what an absolutely fantastic player he has been.”

Losing Scholes would be a blow.

For all his reckless tackling, the 36-year-old is still the most consistent passer at Old Trafford and once Wayne Rooney had levelled Brett Emerton’s first-half strike, Scholes was the perfect man to ensure United did not give the ball away, leading to a slow wind-down to the final whistle, which confirmed Liverpool had been kicked off their perch. “I don’t know if I actually said that,” questioned Ferguson, doubting his own words, which were delivered in September 2002.

“But it was their time in the 1980s. It is our time now.”

Ferguson added: “It is a first (Premier League) medal for Chris Smalling, Darron Gibson and Javier Hernandez. That is a wonderful experience for them.

“They are the future.”