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Manchester United clinched the monumental title number 19 earlier today as they earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Blackburn at Ewood Park. Wayne Rooney's 2nd half penalty ensured that United secured the point they need to clinch the title they surrendered to Chelsea last season. United have now won four titles in the last five seasons and an amazing twelve Premier League titles in the last nineteen years.

Sir Alex Ferguson had this to say as his side celebrated in front of their fans, "It's a fantastic performance. For everybody connected with club, it's a great day in terms of achievement. It wasn't an easy game but we kept going and that is one quality they (have got, they never give in. The focus will be on our away form, which we are disappointed in, but our home form is fantastic. We can consider next week and who should be in our team. There will be a lot of talk about who our team will be next week and we will be fair. We will be out to win the game. We will do our best to make sure we are fair."

British football's marathon man Ryan Giggs, who broke another record today as he overtook David James for the highest Premier League appearances, was tempered about the constant criticism hurled United's way this season, saying, "Yeah, obviously we're rubbish - we've won the Premier League and we're in the Champions League final. Twenty years ago we were nowhere near Liverpool, but we've gone past our biggest rivals. This is why I keep going, for day's like this, it's amazing."

The high stakes seemed to have had an affect on Rooney too as he had this to say to Sky Sports, "It was terrifying, I had to compose myself before taking the penalty because there was quite a long delay. After the year I've had, so many ups and downs, but this is fantastic. Winning the Premier League is amazing, getting that 19th title. For me personally, for the fans and the club, it's a great feeling for us."

The man who won the penalty, Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez, was visibly delighted to win his first Premier League trophy "It's really great. I am really happy and it is more than I imagined. I dreamed of this moment and it is fantastic to be at this club." The Little Pea also confirmed for the benefit of the non-United fans, "The contact was there for the penalty!"

United's cheerleader supreme, Rio Ferdinand, was understandably relieved at the final whistle, saying, "It's been a hard couple of years for me and now I have good movement and I've been working hard in training. If you work hard you get your rewards, and this title is for the fans."

The perch Sir Alex Ferguson referred to in the infamous interview back in 2002 now firmly belongs to Manchester United as Liverpool have been de-throned gradually over the last twenty years. The most successful club in English football now have the little matter of the Champions League final to look forward to as they get ready to face Barcelona at Wembley on May 28th.

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File Photograph Copyright: Austin Osuide