MANCHESTER United will have to think big this summer if they are to regain their rightful place as the kings of English football.

It goes without saying that Fergie needs to strengthen his defence, and that another front-line striker is required. But the side needs beefing up in a more literal sense as well.

The sides which have ended United's phenomenal run of success this season have had the edge in muscle.

Arsenal, Liverpool and Leverkusen all have their talents, but none of them can surpass the Reds in terms of pure football ability. Where they have found the beating of United has been in physical combat - even though United tried, and failed, to rough up Arsenal on Wednesday night. All three are big, strong sides, and maybe there's the difference.

The word 'failure' has been hanging around over the past few days after the Gunners lifted the title at Old Trafford and German dark horses Bayer Leverkusen secured their place ahead of United in next week's Champions League final with Real Madrid.

Finishing second or third in the Premiership and reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League would be deemed a very good season by any club other than United - and maybe Arsenal.

While at some clubs, fans with high expectations are quick to turn on players and managers when they fail to deliver, United fans have accepted the lack of silverware - even great teams miss out on occasion - and there has still been some great football, and memorable matches along the way.

Injuries

And, while no excuses are needed in the face of a blistering Arsenal run of form, injuries to Roy Keane, Gary Neville and David Beckham were appallingly timed.

The supporters delivered their own verdict on the open warfare between Fergie and the national Press on Wednesday night. Juan Sebastian Veron received a rapturous reception when he trotted across to take a corner in the north-east section of the stadium and they produced a resounding rendition of 'Every single one of us loves Alex Ferguson', even as the title was lost.

The fans, apart from the odd grumbler, are still right behind players and management. But no-one is under any illusion that serious work needs to be done in the summer months.

More muscle may be the way football is going but supreme talent will always find its place.

If Laurent Blanc goes in the summer, United will be a very small team - and all the competitiveness of the likes of Keane and Scholes will not compensate.

Perhaps that is why two of Fergie's top targets last summer were Vieira and Lilian Thuram, players whose physique is as big as their ability.

Veron

The debate has raged all season about Veron, with Fergie insisting the Argentinian has had a good season and the national media, fuelled by unsettling scare stories coming from Italy, labelling him a £28m flop.

The truth lies between the two. Veron himself has admitted that he has not played as well as he would have liked, and it has been evident that his moments of brilliance have been sullied by some poor games.

There is plenty more to come from Veron. A player of his undoubted quality does not become a duffer overnight, and most United fans are willing to give him more time to find consistency. Perhaps he needs a run of games in a settled, central position.

Mikael Silvestre's slip which let Arsenal in for their goal on Wednesday encapsulated the ills of the season.

The defence will need a complete overhaul this summer whatever happens, with Blanc still offering no indication that he will stay, and with doubts remaining about Ronny Johnsen's fitness and David May's suitability.