MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester United interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has warned his players he is prepared to resurrect Sir Alex Ferguson's famous hairdryer treatment if they do not perform.
Ferguson had a reputation for delivering verbal volleys at his players so intense it earned the nickname "the hairdryer" during his 27 years at Old Trafford
The Norwegian saw it first hand during 11 years as a player at Old Trafford and, now in charge, says he is prepared to drop the nice guy image and give the squad a blast of his own if they do not meet his standards.
"We are all different in how we manage people and the manager [Ferguson] was different to every individual," Solskjaer told a news conference on Friday ahead of his first game at former club Cardiff City.
"Maybe I should get the hairdryer out of my pocket because I've got a hairdryer -- when my hair needs lifting I use it on myself -- but I am also not afraid of, if you like, laying down the law.
"You know with your kids when they disappoint you, you tell them off, you don't give them some chocolate do you?
"So you treat players similar to how you treat your kids because you want the best for them, you want to guide them, you want to help them, but if I get disappointed. ... ask [my children] Noah, or Kane or Ellia or some of the players I had in Molde. Once in a while, you really have to tell them the standards we've got."
Solskjaer has had no need to show his stern streak yet after a whirlwind week that saw him end his first day in the job on Thursday by making a surprise appearance at the club's Christmas party at Lancashire Cricket Club.
United have refused to deny reports that midfielder Paul Pogba was fined for a controversial post on Instagram that appeared to mock Mourinho's dismissal just hours after the news broke.
The Frenchman is one of the current squad Solskjaer has worked with before after a spell in charge of United's reserve team between 2008 and 2010 and the 45-year-old has revealed he has spoken to the players about his "standards" in the wake of Pobga's post.
"We've spoken about what we expect, what standards we have on and off the pitch," said Solskjaer, who is 16th on the club's all-time goalscorers list with 126.
"I trust the lads to know what they're doing, to help the team. Everything we do is to help the team.
"The world has changed now. I'm not into this social media. My kids are, yeah.
"I'm that old that I'm not on Twitter or Facebook -- maybe Facebook is old now -- but that's just common sense for me, what I've spoken to them about.
"We have one target -- that we succeed -- and we do that as a team.
"[Paul] is a World Cup winner. He is a terrific lad and when I had him as a kid, he was always there, the happy-go-lucky lad.
"He hasn't changed personality-wise. He's a better player, of course, and he's one that I want to get the best out of. You have so many quality players that I want to get the best out of. He's no different to anyone else in that respect."
Solskjaer spent more than a decade under one manager during his playing days at Old Trafford but the former striker is the fifth man to take the hot seat in the five-and-a-half years since the Scot retired.
Mourinho's dismissal has prompted suggestions the power at the club now lies with the players but Solskjaer was quick to remind the squad who is No. 1.
"I'm not sure about you saying the power has gone to the dressing room," said Solskjaer. "Football has evolved, of course, and the gaffer [Ferguson] was in charge of more or less the whole club. Football is developing.
"The structure of the club has developed. The power is with the manager. He picks the team, the tactics, the strategy. The philosophy is in these walls.
"That legacy is more important than any player power. I have to say being a Man United player is a privilege and I think all of them want to succeed here."