Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson basked in his team's passage into the FA Cup semi-finals and insisted last week's heartbreaking Champions League exit will make his side stronger.
United brushed aside Southampton 4-0 at St Mary's on Saturday in the FA Cup quarter-finals, the perfect antidote to Tuesday's Champions League exit at the hands of AC Milan.
Ferguson insisted that his team will use that defeat as a launch-pad for better things next season.
"We had a setback on Tuesday but we have recovered from that and got ourselves into another semi-final," said the Scotsman.
"It would be very easy to look upon Tuesday as a disappointment that takes us no further. You could look at it as putting us up against a brick wall but I believe it will only lead to better things.
"I think what happened in Milan will prove to be the start of a long road to future success in Europe.
"We are not far away now and I firmly believe this team will get that success in the future."
Saints manager Harry Redknapp tipped United to retain their FA Cup trophy.
With Chelsea eight points clear of United at top of the English Premiership, the FA Cup is the only competition Ferguson's team have a realistic chance of winning this season and Redknapp reckons United will not surrender their last shot at some silverware.
"They've been in great form," Redknapp said. "They're going to take some beating in the Cup. They've been to Arsenal a few weeks back and put four past them, they're looking very dangerous.
"I think both Arsenal and Manchester United are top teams but I think United are looking strong at the moment."
Redknapp reckons United are a much better side when England centre-half Rio Ferdinand is in the side - a man the Saints boss knows all about having nurtured him as a youngster at West Ham United.
Ferdinand put on an impressive display as United cruised into the semi-finals, an assured performance at the heart of the defence snuffing out any Southampton hopes of embarrassing the holders.
"When Rio's playing, they look very strong," insisted the Saints boss.
"I said when Rio was 17 that he would be the best defender in Europe one day and people laughed at me, but he is the best defender.
"He could play in midfield if he wanted to, or anywhere as he comes out with the ball. He was doing that at 15.
"We put him in the first team at West Ham and Manchester United tried to buy him then. He's a fantastic talent."
While Ferguson's side can look forward to a semi-final date at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in mid-April, Redknapp faces the grim task of saving Southampton from relegation.
Saints are 18th in the Premiership and two points adrift of safety. With only a few games left, the task begins away to UEFA Cup side Middlesbrough on March 20.
"There's only one priority and that's staying in the league. Of course it has to come first," Redknapp said.
"We've got nine games to go to stay up and when everybody's fit I still think we can do that."
United skipper Roy Keane opened the scoring on Saturday after just 87 seconds with Cristiano Ronaldo and a Paul Scholes double putting the team into their 25th FA Cup semi-final.