Having finished just nine of his 30 seasons in management without a trophy, Sir Alex Ferguson was not about to extend that statistic into double figures without a fight.

This may have been 'only' the FA Cup to Manchester United, the third competition on their list of priorities for what had otherwise been a dispiriting season, trailing far behind champions Arsenal.

But Ferguson demanded that his side prove their credentials for next season, rather than coasting to victory against First Division Millwall, and that is exactly what they achieved in Cardiff.

It was one of the most one-sided cup finals you could imagine, with Millwall battling gamely but effectively admitting defeat even before kick-off and without a serious shot on target all match.

United, however, were the consummate professionals, ensuring that Ferguson could at least start to think of next season in positive terms after the undiluted struggle of this campaign.

''I won't be worrying this summer, I know we'll be back next season,'' he vowed.

''I'm never fulfilled. That's my problem. I find it difficult. But you have to take the good with the bad in this game.

''We've had disappointments over the years. I've been a manager for 30 years and there have only been nine years when I haven't won anything.

''So I've got to accept that one year I'm not going to win something. I can handle disappointment, even if I don't like it - and I can do something about it.

''Fortunately, I have players who can do something about it too. They have proved themselves before and they will have to do it again. People won't be satisfied until they do that.''

Ferguson maintains that Rio Ferdinand's suspension was the turning-point of the entire season and, with that ban due to run out in September, he sees added cause for optimism ahead.

''Come September, that's behind us and we can then look to go and prove a point next season,'' he added.

Alan Smith's signing - among others - looks to be on the cards, even if Ferguson maintained: ''He's not signed for United yet, has he? So I can't talk about it.''

However, several other key ingredients were there in Cardiff, quite apart from the team's refocused desire to finish the season with at least one trophy.

In Cristiano Ronaldo, they had clearly the game's most exciting performer, making a mockery of Sven-Goran Eriksson's decision to give the man-of-the-match award to Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The Dutchman may have scored twice late on, the first a penalty and the second a tap-in from Ryan Giggs' cross when seemingly offside.

However, Ronaldo was a class apart, proving his immense potential at the age of just 19. This was the display of a thoroughbred, not a one-trick show pony.

''There's no question that the potential of that player is better than anything else in Europe. What we have to to do is realise that potential,'' declared Ferguson of his £12.2million signing.

The Portuguese winger may still be prone to one step-over too many and may still go down rather too easily, but he is maturing every month and adding an end product to his exquisite array of skills.

One back-flick cross was mesmerising to watch, while his stooping header from Gary Neville's cross put United inexorably en route to victory just before half-time.

That killed the game off as a meaningful contest, with Millwall player-boss Dennis Wise, only half-fit himself and without several key players, never having thought an upset was realistically on.

''I just felt we could defend for our lives and nick a goal, but I didn't want to get embarrassed and the knock these young lads' confidence,'' he observed.

Wise may have tried to copy Chelsea's recent tactics against United at Old Trafford, but instead he only managed to recreate the Blues' mismatched 1994 FA Cup final, when they lost 4-0 to Ferguson's side.

While Ronaldo shone most brightly, Darren Fletcher also continued to display his immense promise in central midfield, while Roy Keane and Paul Scholes remain class acts.

''Roy Keane is a fantastic player. He's had a few injuries but he's only 32 and I was playing maybe my best football at that age with Chelsea,'' added Wise, admiringly.

''They miss him when he doesn't play as he has a presence. He gives Paul Scholes a licence to get forward more and that's what we were worrying about. Scholes is a little ferret, he's so sharp.''

If van Nistelrooy stays at Old Trafford and a top-class defender is also signed, there is, indeed, no reason why United cannot regroup next season.

However, overcoming Millwall was nothing compared to the challenge of overhauling Arsenal. United are back in business but there is a long way to go yet.

* Roy Keane believes the sign of a great team is how they bounce back from failure - and the Irishman is confident Manchester United will have done exactly that in 12 months' time.

Even though the Red Devils' skipper was as happy as any of his teammates to bask in the glory of Saturday's FA Cup final victory over Millwall, Keane was quick to emphasise the United camp will not spend too long celebrating.

''The sign of a top club is how you respond to disappointments,'' said Keane.

''It's part of life at Manchester United that when you win people say you are the greatest and when you lose they condemn you for being the world's worst. All you can do is ignore it.

''We have been disappointed with our league form this year but sometimes you have to be patient.

''We have a good manager and great players and I have no doubt we will be okay.'