Sir Alex Ferguson insists winning the Premier League title by virtue of goal difference would be a victory for the Manchester United way.

With United and Chelsea locked together on 84 points, it is the 78 goals scored by the Red Devils which gives them the vital edge heading into their final game at Wigan.

And in laughing off a suggestion that he should be bothered by winning the championship by such a slender margin, Ferguson launched a passionate defence of the Old Trafford attacking ethos.

"We have our beliefs and they will not change," he said. "We play the game the way it should be played. That is our history. It is indelibly printed at this club."

While he accepts the TV schedulers are rubbing their hands at such a mouth-watering finale, Ferguson has detected a relaxed air in training this week, with the Champions League semi-final win over Barcelona still fresh in the mind.

"We all have emotions," he said. "Sometimes you get a little nervous. Sometimes you get over-confident. That is the nature of the game.

"But beating Barcelona was a fantastic fillip for this club. You saw that against West Ham last Saturday. It was like a carnival.

"Getting to the European Cup final has relaxed everyone and I hope that momentum stays with us."