Barca loss 'to motivate Man Utd'

Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs says defeat in this season's Champions League final will motivate the side to challenge for honours next year.

United were outclassed by Barcelona on Wednesday night in Rome, losing 2-0 to the Spanish side.

"Everyone is disappointed and no-one wants to lose a final but we will try to get back there next year," he said.

"We have got to keep improving, that is what great teams and great players do, look forward to the next challenge."

Goals from Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi for Barcelona put paid to United's hopes of becoming the first side to retain the Champions League title, after their penalty shoot-out victory over Chelsea 12 months ago.

Giggs says United must use the defeat as a springboard to reaching the Champions League final for a third successive year."We will look to get to a third consecutive Champions final. That is the challenge we have got next year," he said.

Giggs also feels United must not allow the disappointment of Wednesday's defeat to detract from what has been another successful season, with the club having claimed a third successive Premier League title as well as the Carling Cup and Fifa World Club Cup.

"It has been a fantastic season and we must not forget that. We have achieved so much," he said.

"To win three Premier League titles on the trot is an unbelievable thing to do and now we must look to make it four."

Speculation is already rife about what potential changes United manager Alex Ferguson may make to ready the squad to challenge in the 2009-10 season.They have been linked again with big-money moves for Lyon striker Karim Benzema and Wigan winger Luiz Antonio Valencia.

Inevitably, the long-running saga of Cristiano Ronaldo's potential move to Real Madrid has resurfaced, with the player seemingly doing little to dispel them.

"I don't want to talk about clubs, I want to rest," said Ronaldo. "I've played many games under a lot of pressure. The future... we'll see."

United still need to make a decision on the future of Carlos Tevez, with a £25m permanent transfer still in the balance and a host of other clubs, including Liverpool and Manchester City, apparently readying bids.

"It has not been a good time for me because I believe that I should have played more minutes," Tevez told the Daily Mirror. "My future will now be decided. My agents are negotiating and I am waiting to hear some news."

Midfielders Ji-Sung Park and Nani and goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak are all rumoured to be departing.