The title may have been in the bag, the fulcrum of an uncertain defence may have been absent and Manchester United were at times simply on cruise control in second gear.

But that Sir Alex Ferguson's side still managed to beat Chelsea, supposedly one of the main pre-season title challengers, showed just how far ahead of their domestic rivals they actually are - even when they have nothing to play for.

Europe is beyond them this season following their self-destruction against Real Madrid but they are now 16 points ahead of second-placed Liverpool and a massive 23 points clear of Chelsea.

Indeed such are the Blues' woes, with their faltering bid to qualify for next season's Champions' League now surely doomed to failure, that United could retire from action, leave Chelsea to play on for another two months - and they would probably still not be caught.

This fixture was, at one stage, heralded as a possible Champions' League final, although the defensive weaknesses of both sides were so clear in a disjointed game that it is perhaps unsurprising that they will not either in fact be present in Paris on May 24.

United, without Jaap Stam, could perhaps be forgiven for their shortcomings given that they secured the domestic title two days beforehand at Southampton and this was a case of 'after the Lord Mayor's show' for them.

But while their season may effectively already be over, Chelsea still had a mission to rescue theirs and their non-performance, especially in the second-half, was far more culpable.

The side which beat United 5-0 at Stamford Bridge last October now lie two points behind fourth-placed Leeds and four behind Arsenal, having played extra games and with just three Premiership fixtures left for an increasingly unlikely transformation in fortunes.

They self-destructed early on when keeper Ed De Goey's horrendous mistake with an attempted clearance rebounded off Dwight Yorke into the net but they still led 2-1 after Dan Petrescu and Gianfranco Zola struck back.

Even that was not enough, however, as United - who had the temerity to take off Roy Keane with 31 minutes left - equalised through Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and then clinched victory with Yorke's second on 69 minutes.

The trophy itself may not have been at Old Trafford but there was still a triumphal atmosphere at Old Trafford as the team walked - or maybe even swaggered - out to now-familiar cries of 'champions'.

That United have the resources to strengthen further this summer, as they indeed must at the back, was evident from the sight of prospective £19million striker Ruud van Nistelrooy in the directors' box.

Ferguson was also able to recall Ronny Johnsen, who has been sorely missed, for his first start since last season's Champions League final due to knee surgery.

Johnsen was nowhere to be seen as Tore Andre Flo's early header was tipped over but he grew steadily in composure after the home side took the lead on 10 minutes - even if Yorke knew little about his 50th goal for the club.

De Goey, who had already dithered on a couple of occasions, hesitated a third time after Emerson Thome had passed back to him and his attempted clearance hit Yorke and rebounded just inside the post.

Chelsea did not immediately buckle as United failed to press home the advantage and after Zola had an effort saved and Flo shot over, Petrescu duly equalised with 22 minutes gone as United were caught out at the back.

Flo's cross to the back post found Petrescu challenging Phil Neville but it proved one-sided as the Romanian - who similarly shook off the attentions of another England left-back, Graeme Le Saux, in the World Cup - lashed a right-foot shot past van der Gouw.

United soon reorganised at the back, even if the reasons were not immediately clear as Gary Neville trotted off to be replaced by Henning Berg, with Mikael Silvestre moving out to left-back to match Petrescu for pace and Phil Neville swapping flanks.

There was little effect on United's defensive problems, however, as Berg was soon caught out by a Petrescu cross and failed to get tight enough in his marking on Zola before slipping at the vital moment.

The Italian seized the half-chance with a half-volley but was fortunate as the ball slammed into the ground and bounced over the head of van der Gouw into the net.

This time it was Chelsea's turn to generously allow the opposition back into the game though as their defence stood rooted to the spot while Ryan Giggs slipped the ball sideways to Solskjaer and he turned inside before firing past the static figure of de Goey.

United had chances to regain the lead before the break, with Giggs slipping just as he took aim and Solskjaer blazing wildly over the bar, and the ineffective Didier Deschamps and Gabriele Ambrosetti were duly replaced by Jody Morris and Jon Harley.

Yet it did little to reinvigorate a match which was now starting to peter out, with the string of misplaced passes continuing and United increasingly in control.

Wise volleyed over and Solskjaer's header also narrowly cleared the bar but, with Keane and Solskjaer being taken off, the onus remained on Chelsea to take the game by the scruff of the neck.

It was still United who struck the crucial blow though as David Beckham's shot was only palmed away by de Goey at full stretch and Yorke pounced ahead of Frank Leboeuf to ram the ball home from close range.

De Goey just clawed Cruyff's effort off the line shortly afterwards yet even when Flo had time to line up a shot, Berg managed to intercept with his head and direct the ball against the crossbar.

It was an isolated threat by the visitors and Beckham fired just wide and by the end.

United were imperiously toying with Chelsea, producing flicks and tricks which simply rubbed in not only the result but also their clear and undeniable domestic superiority.

As United celebrated, the only regret is their Champions' League elimination. Chelsea, however, are unlikely to even be playing in that competition next season and that would be a much more bitter pill to swallow.

Teams:

Man Utd: Van Der Gouw, G. Neville (Berg 32), Johnsen, Silvestre, P. Neville, Beckham, Butt, Keane (Scholes 50), Giggs, Yorke, Solskjaer (Cruyff 63).

Subs Not Used: Sheringham, Fortune.

Booked: Solskjaer, Beckham.

Goals: Yorke 10, Solskjaer 39, Yorke 69.

Chelsea: De Goey, Lambourde, Leboeuf, Thome, Melchiot, Petrescu (Sutton 73), Wise, Deschamps (Morris 46), Ambrosetti (Harley 46), Flo, Zola.

Subs Not Used: Hogh, Cudicini.

Booked: Lambourde.

Goals: Petrescu 22, Zola 36.

Att: 61,593

Ref: S Dunn (Bristol).