SIR Alex Ferguson will head off for a relaxing round of golf on Sunday afternoon hoping to be interrupted by confirmation of Manchester United's ninth Premiership title triumph.

Ferguson was famously informed of his first championship success as Red Devils manager in 1993 when a well-wisher charged onto the golf course when he was playing with son Mark to tell him of the triumph.

And so, having abandoned plans to fly off to Zaragoza to watch United youngster Gerard Pique in La Liga, Ferguson will head outside rather than watch Arsenal attempt to deprive Chelsea of the win that will extend the championship race into the final week following his side's Manchester derby win at Eastlands.

"I won't be watching the game on TV," confirmed Ferguson.

"I was going to see Gerard Pique play but there has been a problem with the flights, so I will go for a game of golf instead.

"Hopefully Arsenal will get the result we want tomorrow but if we have to go to Chelsea to get something on Wednesday, we will look forward to it."

A combination of the first-half penalty Cristiano Ronaldo scored and the one after half-time Darius Vassell missed means even if Jose Mourinho's men win at the Emirates Stadium, then beat United at Stamford Bridge next week, a draw for the Old Trafford outfit on home soil against West Ham on the final day will be enough to clinch the hard-fought title.

"It has been a great title race but I think this result finishes it," admitted City boss Stuart Pearce.

"You do not win the league over 38 games through luck. Manchester United are an extremely talented side with some fantastic players."

As Ferguson pointed out, his squad also have plenty of durability.

Home soil

Although they were never at their best against a City side who have beaten them on three of the last four meetings on home soil, in the end they proved worthy winners, casting off the lethargy brought on by an arrival back in England in the early hours of Thursday morning following their Champions League defeat to Milan.

"It was a great example of human courage," said Ferguson.

"The Premier League did not do us any favours with the kick-off time but we dug deep and saw it through, which is all you can ask for at this stage of the season.

"I don't think there will be many more twists and turns now.

"If we had lost today, it would have given Chelsea a lot of confidence but we have both had hard seasons and maybe that is why we were both knocked out of the European Cup this week."

Ferguson revealed he was ready to introduce Ole Gunnar Solskjaer if Vassell had levelled the game. But in the end, it was not required as the former England striker blasted his shot against Edwin van der Sar's legs.

"Ole is one player in the world who you can bring on to score a goal," said Ferguson.

"Thankfully, Edwin showed his experience and made the save."

Ferguson claimed he was not in a good position to see whether Wes Brown had fouled Michael Ball for the Blues' spot-kick.

However, he did see Ball trip Ronaldo for United's penalty, and he also saw the City man stamp on his star man in the second minute, an outrageous incident that was not spotted by referee Rob Styles.

"The lad stamped on Ronaldo," said Ferguson.

"It was also a clear penalty for us. Cristiano took it well, as he has done all his penalties this season."

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