FERGIE BECOMING A LAUGHING STOCK

“The quality of football from both sides was terrific and we were in control until their second. Then they took command but I was happy with our performance.

“Our passing and movement was good and so was our confidence. All in all it was a wonderful game of football and both teams deserve credit for that.

“Once Chelsea's second goal went in they were worthy winners. The one thing I can take out of the game is that the confidence of the team was good.

"The tempo of the game was fantastic and anyone watching as a neutral would be thrilled by the football played.

"I didn't expect us to get second after the result on Saturday but I think it was about trying to keep our confidence up and on the whole it was good.

"I thought we played some good football, the match was very competitive and it was really a game for professionals."

Still, it seems the FA may do him a favour and gag him. From the MEN:

FA officials are considering whether Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will face action after comments regarding his side's lack of penalties this season.

Ferguson was asked to explain his comments following last month's 2-1 Premiership victory against Newcastle.

"We have received Sir Alex Ferguson's response and we are giving it due consideration," said an FA spokesman.

The Guardian’s match report:

Chelsea, with two trophies secured, could have tolerated a defeat but it was Manchester United who endured all the suffering. At the end of their final home match there was a galling trudge of honour for the players in front of fans who had also seen them consigned to third place a year ago.

Jose Mourinho has begun to resemble a grim reaper and Sir Alex Ferguson must shudder and wonder how much life can be left in his tenure unless he engineers a transformation soon. A wonderfully sporting crowd applauded the victors but they will not bear many more nights like this.

Chelsea broke into United's home and, like vandals, smashed the records that Ferguson had proudly collected. Mourinho's side have now amassed the most points ever achieved in the Premiership. They have also run up 29 league wins, where United only ever reached 28.

It is the times to come that obsess Ferguson and fill him with concern. Joe Cole was fractionally offside when he tucked in the third goal, after Wes Brown had mishit a wild pass to Frank Lampard, but Chelsea were a formidable side after the interval despite the absence of, among others, Petr Cech, Arjen Robben, Damien Duff and John Terry.

For the first time in 103 league matches, too, United were beaten after taking the lead, with the harm done by a makeshift line-up. While with Porto, Mourinho knocked Ferguson's team out of the Champions League, and this season he has floored them in the League Cup and completed a double in the Premiership.

The Portuguese is a grave threat to his rivals, but wealthy United are among a handful of clubs in the world who are equipped financially to meet on broadly equal terms. The pressure on Ferguson would not be so severe if he did not enjoy such great resources.

Though United had acceptable spells and may beat Arsenal in the FA Cup final, that will not suffice when the memory of the Premiership, and this match in particular, looms in so many minds. There are several excellent players but the creation of a potent team is as elusive as ever.

Chelsea are the conundrum to solve and United, on this evidence, are bereft of answers.

The Mirror:

Humiliated Manchester United performed a lap of honour to an almost empty Old Trafford last night as newly-crowned champions Chelsea piled on the misery with a record-breaking display.

Sir Alex Ferguson and his dejected players performed their end-of-season routine, but thousands of furious United fans had left well before the final whistle.

It was an embarrassing end to the season for Fergie and United, who saw Chelsea stretch their lead over them to 20 points - and take two of United's proud records away from them.

Chelsea's win made it 29, beating United's previous best of 28, and their points total of 94 surpassed United's tally of 92, which had stood for 11 years.

"I'm not happy at all. But Chelsea came here and played with the authority of champions, which you have to give them credit for.

"They could have come and had an easy night, but they worked hard and controlled the game.

"We know Chelsea have raised the financial stakes, but money isn't the total reason for success. There's still a team to be built, balance to be created, tactics to be applied and spirit to be generated.

"All this Jose Mourinho has done and, what is remarkable, in his first season here. To come into the Premiership and leave us all standing is brilliant and we offer our sincere congratulations.

"For a manager new to the country and the English game, breaking entirely new ground, it's a formidable achievement. They have certainly raised the bar for the rest of us.

"There was no catching them, as I'm sure Arsene Wenger will agree, and a new challenge has arrived for the rest of us.

"But we need to remind Chelsea that staying on top is sometimes more difficult than actually getting there."