"Finding a solution is not easy but that is the challenge"
- Sir Alex Ferguson
The challenge has been laid down - and Ferguson intends to spend his summer holidays working out what to do about it.
Ferguson has never been scared of a challenge.
In the aftermath of Manchester United's record 19th league title he spoke about his willingness to face the threat to his side's domestic supremacy posed by Manchester City.
On Saturday night in the Champions League final at Wembley, Ferguson encountered a problem of a different kind.
In previous meetings with Barcelona there has always been an explanation.
Three years ago it was the story of United's sensational defending in keeping two clean sheets in the narrowest of semi-final wins on the way to Moscow.
Twelve months after that, Ferguson could point to his team failing to turn up in Rome.
They turned up on Saturday night. At times they implemented his game-plan to perfection. They even scored.
Ultimately though, United were reduced to chasing shadows, overwhelmed by one of the greatest sides to play the game, containing the best player in the world and two more from the top five.
"Finding a solution is not easy but that is the challenge," said Ferguson in the wake of the 3-1 defeat.
"You should not be afraid of the challenge.
"The one thing we have shown is that we are consistent in Europe. We have got better and better over the past few years.
"Maybe this could be the kind of stepping stone we had when we lost 4-0 (to Barcelona in 1994).
"We improved from that. We want to improve. Next season may see us improve even more."
Not that it is Ferguson's problem alone.
"We all have a challenge with Barcelona, not just Manchester United," he added.
"It is not any consolation to say you are the second best team. We don't enjoy being second best.
"Any club with the history we have; Real Madrid, AC Milan, would say the same."
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