On a day when Manchester United won their fifth Premiership title in seven years and Alex Ferguson lost his public persona as tough, taciturn Scot, it wasn't always easy to take in the full captivating picture at Old Trafford.

Passion breaking across the stadium in tidal waves is an integral part of United's history. And yet, even by the most extravagant standards, this was something special as Roy Keane's team took the first faltering steps in the push for the alluring treble of European Cup, FA Cup and Premiership successes.

In terms of chances made and lost, the new champions were so far in front that at times it mocked the billing of a title decider.

And yet, incredibly, the tension was as taut as a tightrope as United clawed their way back from the shock of conceding a 28th-minute goal to Les Ferdinand without ever making the game safe until the last blast of referee George Poll's whistle proclaimed the start of a new reign and worry finally mellowed into unbridled delight.

Goals from David Beckham and Andy Cole had at last brought the red hoards to the promised land and suddenly the fruits of nine long painstaking months were ready for harvesting.

Arsenal's brief kingship was over and Ferguson, sensing the momentousness of it all, was on the pitch within seconds, hugging and kissing anybody who crossed his path, including one mildly startled security man.

More than most, perhaps, he had come to appreciate the hazards of prioritising in the attempt to go where no other English club has been before.

Determined to focus on the job in hand on any particular day, he refused to be distracted by the prospect of other, even bigger assignments. And it worked to his advantage yet again here. "The only thing that mattered today was to win the championship, Wembley next Saturday and Barcelona in 10 days' time can wait for our attention," he said.

"We've now achieved what we set out to do last August. And it's a good, very good feeling.

"Tottenham played well, worked hard and gave the lie to the notion held by their nearest neighbours that they had nothing to play for.

"At 2-1 down, they were more dangerous than ever. Their middle three began to hold the ball and suddenly we were under pressure for the first time in the game. It was at that point that I decided to switch Dwight Yorke finally to a wide role on the right wing and bring David Beckham inside to shore up the middle.

"Our plan from that point was to hold what we had and I make no apology for that. My players had worked their butts off to get this point. It was right and proper that they should now do everything to protect that lead and win the title."

For Peter Schmeichel, it was a bittersweet day. A fifth championship medal was more than he could have hoped for when he first touched down in Manchester at the start of the decade. Now, on his last appearance at Old Trafford before seeking new challenges for conquest, he was suitably reflective.

"This was a day I have been thinking about for months," he said. "In all my years at the club, I have never experienced the kind of atmosphere there was in the stadium. I won't have too many happy memories of Tottenham's goal, but yes, I'll remember this day for a long time."

In following Noel Cantwell and Danny Blanchflower as Irishmen who have skippered successful championship teams in England, Roy Keane's leadership was as influential as ever. Overcoming a lingering ankle injury, he laid down the bench marks for recovery with a long, surging run within minutes of Ferdinand's shock goal.

It was a joyful day too for Dennis Irwin, who now joins the celebrated group of players who have won five championship medals. Irwin was as dependable as ever in ensuring that the feared threat of Darren Anderton never materialised. "Even for players who had been through it all, there was a lot of tension out there today, knowing that just one mistake could cost us the title," he said.

"Luckily, we were wrong. The goal we conceded was as bad as anything we've lost this season; but had it not come we might never have won the game. Before they scored, we had wasted five or six good chances and you began to get the feeling that it was one of those days. "But once we found ourselves behind, it was a win or bust situation. And I think we responded to it in such a way that nobody can deny our right to the trophy.

"Championships are won over a season, not in just one game. And I like to think that we have proved ourselves the most consistent team in England since the first ball was kicked last August".