Sir Alex Ferguson did that awkward little dance with which we have become familiar.

The one where he does not know what to do with his arms or feet or who to hug for the best.

Ryan Giggs, how fitting on the day he equalled Bobby Charlton's 758-match appearance record, had just scored the goal which gave Manchester United a 2-0 win at Wigan and secured their 10th Premier League title.

And surely no-one could deny that they were worthy of the celebrations which followed.

Eighty goals, by far the most this league season. Only 22 conceded, easily the least.

No arguments. United were the best and with Chelsea drawing 1-1 against Bolton, the title was secured with two points to spare.

No-one could say Wigan did not uphold the integrity of the league.

They shed bucketloads of honest sweat in closing down men in red shirts.

The only pity was that the ebb and flow of the final match was influenced so decisively by referee Steve Bennett.

In a season during which respect for officials has been such an issue of contention, Bennett denied Wigan a penalty when Rio Ferdinand cleared the ball with the top of his arm and gave United a penalty when Emmerson Boyce was adjudged to have brought down Wayne Rooney.

He capped a ragged performance when again he ruled in United's favour, failing to send off Paul Scholes for what appeared a blatant second yellow card offence.

But let's not dwell on the details of a match in which United were a long way from their fluent best.

Let's instead recognise why every football fan in Britain should stand up and applaud them this season.

I know that would be difficult for Arsenal supporters, whose side play such eye-pleasing football.

Nor would such a thought go down well at Stamford Bridge or Anfield, especially as United's 17th league title leaves them just one behind Liverpool's record.

But United this season, more than any other team, have played football as it was meant to be played. With a swashbuckling pride, a thirst for goals, a desire to entertain and a passion to win.

It was that last quality which was uppermost at the JJB stadium, a quality which is the mark of champions.

It is easy to dazzle when everything is going your way. Not so easy when the nerves are taught, the weather stormy and the opposition obdurate. But United so often have shown those qualities.

Remember the way they had to scrap for a 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough and came from behind to beat Arsenal 2-1 in the match which swung the title their way.

The formidable defensive partnership of Nemanja Vidic and Ferdinand has been crucial. So has the form of Scholes and the goals of Carlos Tevez.

But when football historians come to analyse the winning of the 2007008 Premier League title, one name will burn brighter than the rest.

Old Trafford has witnessed some of football's greatest orchestrators. From Duncan Edwards to Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best, to Eric Cantona.

But Ronaldo is up there with the best and, yes, by that I do mean George.

I never thought I would witness a player in Britain to rival Best, a man whose creation and goalscoring with both feet and head was matched only by his courage to run at defenders and when chopped down get up and continue where he had left off.

But Ronaldo's spot-kick against Wigan took his Premier League tally to 31 to equal Alan Shearer's record in a 38-match season.

Ronaldo has not usurped Best's crown just yet and perhaps never will, but this season he edged a step closer.

Evidence? His wonder free-kick, swerving and dipping up and over the wall in a 2-0 win against Portsmouth which Ferguson hailed as the best in Premier League history. The impudence of his backheeled goal against Aston Villa. The pace and trickery of his dribbling.

It has been a quite extraordinary season, one of the best and tightest ever, as illustrated by the drama of the last day.

Not just at the top but at the bottom, where Fulham survived with victory at Portsmouth and Birmingham and Reading were relegated despite brave finales.

There was nothing boring, as had been suggested in some Premier League circles, about that.

At the end, Ferguson, hair matted from the inclement weather, talked about the next aim, after the Champions League final, namely equalling Liverpool's record of 18 league trophies.

Then he was off with another little celebratory dance. The undisputed king of British football.