Manchester United’s chastening 2-0 defeat by Barcelona in the European Cup final in Rome last night can be put down to a combination of a few key factors: one team playing well below their capabilities, another playing to them, and Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, getting his tactics horribly wrong.

As such, there may be no major surgery at Old Trafford during the summer. However, one or two familiar faces may be shown the door, others will return from injury to strengthen the side, while departures may also present opportunities for a number of the club's young players to continue their development. Whatever happens, Ferguson will have much to reflect on in the weeks ahead.

Goalkeeper

Edwin van der Sar

Van der Sar has been a fantastic servant to United since his £2.5million move from Fulham in June 2005, but for all the records he has broken this season, the sands of time appear to be catching up with the Dutchman, who will be 39 in October and in his last season with the club.

He rarely makes clangers but when was the last time he made a truly world class save, the kind which United goalkeepers – redundant for long periods of games – are expected to make?

Although he made one or two good stops against Barcelona, he rarely saves United these days when it matters most, notably when he was beaten at his near post by Samuel Eto’o in the 10th minute. Would Van der Sar in his pomp, or Peter Schmeichel, or a Shay Given or Petr Cech have saved that, for example? There is every possibility.

Ben Foster & Tomasz Kuszczak

The problem Ferguson faces is deciding whether either of Foster or Kuszczak are good or ready enough, or, in Foster’s case, fit enough to keep goal regularly for the Barclays Premier League champions and a team competing where the stakes are the highest. He will not sign a new goalkeeper this summer so he must stay true to his promise to involve one or both of them on a more regular basis next season, but then question marks persist.

With Foster, over his lamentable injury record – he missed out on a place on the substitutes’ bench against Barcelona because of a ruptured ligament to his right thumb that necessitated surgery and will rule him out for another two months. With Kuszczak, over his ability at the highest level. He has a habit of flapping at crosses, he is not overly confident kicking and it is debatable as to whether he has the quality to make outstanding saves, something Foster does.

Defence

Rio Ferdinand & Nemanja Vidic