Arsene Wenger believes Manchester United will bounce back next season after the blow of losing the FA Cup final to his Arsenal team on penalties. United deserved the victory after controlling Saturday's game in Cardiff, only to be outgunned by Arsenal 5-4 from the penalty spot after two hours of football ended 0-0.
Though the defeat followed a trophyless season for a United side who finished a distant third in the Premier League behind Chelsea, Wenger told reporters: "I wouldn't write them off.
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"If we had lost, it would have been a huge blow because you fight hard to get into the final and you know at the end you have not won anything [over the season].
"And you cannot keep people happy when you don't win things at the moment. There are so many clubs in England who hope to win something that it's getting more difficult every year.
"Of course, I can have sympathy for United because they played very well and it is difficult to lose games like that when you have the chances. But it's part of the game."
While United re-group, Wenger is planning a limited number of moves on the transfer market after his own team finished second behind Chelsea and were also second best in playing terms on Saturday.
"If you look at the game, you can say we can improve in every area," said the Frenchman.
"But we have 90 percent of what is needed. If we find one or two players, of course, we'll do it. We have the money and we can buy reasonably."
A goalkeeper may not be on his list following a superb display against United by Jens Lehmann, who had been left out by Wenger earlier in the season.
Asked if the German would be his first-choice keeper next season, he said: "Normally, yes.
"I cannot guarantee that at the start of the season because he is suspended in Europe and I will decide whether to start with him or not."
The one certainty is that Wenger does not want to sit through many more games in which Arsenal are forced onto the back foot with a cautious 4-5-1 formation.
Explaining the theory, Wenger said it was: "For once, let's try and get what we really want at any price -- and it worked.
"But I'm not really convinced we always have to play like that. I wouldn't be happy every week like that."
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