from the champions website:
jose saloutes the mighty reds
Jose Mourinho has offered his congratulations to United on their title triump but refused to admit the best team had won the Championship.
Chelsea's 1-1 draw at Arsenal was not enough to keep their title hopes alive as United were crowned champions.
The Blues' boss saluted his team's courage after a dogged second half display despite being reduced to ten men following the sending-off of Khalid Boulahrouz just before the break.
"I have to say maybe I'm prouder [of my team] now than when we were champions," Mourinho told Sky Sports. "All season my players have been heroes against everything. This was a game to remember and showed how big Chelsea are as a club.
"I have to congratulate the champions, the players, the manager, the fans, the board; all the people that helped them to be champions."
But when asked whether the best side had reigned triumphant, Mourinho remained typically coy.
"It doesn't matter, what matters is the team with more points is the champion," he said.
Nevertheless, the Chelsea boss added that his team would form a guard of honour when United pitch up at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
"They did it for us [in 2005] and we shall do the same for them," he insisted.
also:
sir alex promisies more success:
Sir Alex Ferguson used his press conference on Monday to heap more praise on his title-winning team and ponder additions to it in the summer.
"This title is the team's greatest achievement to date simply because it's a relatively new team and really it's their first attempt at winning a title together," said Sir Alex.
"That's why we're all encouraged, I think this team will get better."
As for the prospect of players being added to the champions in the summer, Sir Alex said: "We have outlined three targets (ourselves) and David Gill is aware of them.
"We identify players as quietly as we can so we can do things quickly, because when there is competition, it costs. Chelsea paid £27m for Michael Essien. They can outbid us all."
Transfer targets like Essien, Arjen Robben and others may have ended up in London rather than Manchester but Sir Alex still made some key signings in the four years between his eighth and ninth Premiership titles. These additions were at the forefront of his mind on Monday as he reflected on the fruits of his team-building.
"We had a good foundation (from 2003) in players like Giggs, Scholes, Neville, Solskjaer and Ferdinand. Then we brought some new players in like Heinze, Vidic, Evra, Carrick, Rooney and Ronaldo, Park... they gave us a far more balanced and powerful squad.
"Vidic (for example) has been the best centre-half in the country this season. He's been absolutely outstanding. You could see the difference his partnership with Rio Ferdinand made to us on Saturday against Manchester City.
"It was absolutely peerless, a fantastic performance by both of them.
"That foundation of strength in the central defensive position is something we've been wanting for a long time, going back to Pallister and Bruce. We've had some good combinations but none lasted as long as hopefully these two will do."
Sir Alex was asked about his chances of monopolising the Premiership title, just as he did in 1993-94, 1996-97 and 1999-01.
"For us to dominate the league again will be a difficult task," he replied.
"I expect Arsenal, Liverpool and obviously Chelsea to add to their squads in the summer. I thought the signings of Shevchenko and Ballack were really designed to win Chelsea the European Cup but they were, in fact, involved on all four fronts until almost the very end.
"It tells you a lot about their strength in depth, and how difficult it will be for us next year."
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