Chelsea manager Avram Grant paid tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson after Manchester United won the Premier League title on Sunday.
Grant's team, with their inferior goal difference, needed to better United's result but were held by Bolton while Ferguson's team beat Wigan.
"United had a great season, played very well and are champions," said Grant.
"I especially want to congratulate Sir Alex Ferguson. He is a great manager and a great person."
Grant took over as Chelsea boss following the departure of Jose Mourinho in September and with the team fifth in the Premier League.
The Israeli guided Chelsea to the Carling Cup final, second place in the Premier league and his team will contest the Champions League final against United in Moscow on 21 May.
"We did a good job," added Grant. "We came from fifth, to fourth, to third, to second and then level on points with United going into the last game. I wish we had two weeks more.
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"We did a good season, how we handled many situations made me proud.
"We have created history in becoming the first Chelsea team to get to a Champions League final but we want to win it and will do everything to win against a great team."
Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack echoed Grant's sentiments when he said: "You have to say congratulations to Manchester United. In the end it was very close.
"Everybody is a little bit disappointed but in one or two days we will have switched and be looking forward to the final in Moscow."
"It has been a good end to what has been a bad season for most of the time"The draw ensured Bolton finished 16th in the table with 37 points.
Manager Gary Megson took over at the club on 25 October with Bolton bottom of the Premier League table.
And having survived relegation, Megson said: "When I took over it was about one thing - keeping Bolton in the Premier League and we have managed to do that.
"There is a lot of work to do through the summer to try to give ourselves a better opportunity of having a better season."
And Megson was delighted that his team's season finished with a point at Stamford Bridge.
"We came down here with a way of playing that would suit us," added Megson. "We could not have the game open on the pitch massive.
"To come here and get a point is a decent result - most teams have not managed that. It has been a good end to what has been a bad season for most of the time.
"The way the actual game went we have to be delighted with a point because of the amount of possession and territorial advantage they had."
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