Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Says He Is Prepared to Use 'Hairdryer' at Manchester United

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said he is prepared to replicate Sir Alex Ferguson's infamous "hairdryer" treatment during his time as caretaker manager at Manchester United.

Ferguson was renowned for his dressing-room outbursts when his players were not meeting his standards.

Solskjaer, 45, spent 11 years playing under the Scot at Old Trafford.

Ahead of his first game in charge of United at Cardiff City on Saturday, he said that he is prepared to emulate "the gaffer" by disciplining his side if needs be, per BBC Sport's Simon Stone:

"I've got a hairdryer. If I get disappointed, ask [children] Noah, Karna and Elijah—or some of the players I had at Molde. I am not afraid of laying down the law. 

"When your kids disappoint you, you don't give them chocolate do you? You treat players how you treat your kids. You want the best for them. You want to guide them. You want to help them."

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Solskjaer's only previous experience of managing in the Premier League was at Saturday's opponents Cardiff, with whom he endured a difficult spell in 2014.

He has had success in Norway with Molde, though, winning league titles in 2011 and 2012 and finishing second in the past two campaigns.

The former striker is expected to return to his role at Molde at the end of the 2018-19 Premier League season, when United will then appoint a permanent replacement for Jose Mourinho.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is top of United's list of candidates, per Jason Burt and Matt Law of the Telegraph.

Mourinho was sacked on Tuesday following United's worst-ever start to a Premier League season and a run of six English top-flight games in which they won just once.

The atmosphere at the club had become toxic under the Portuguese, a situation that could well be reversed by the appointment of a club legend as manager.

The most effective way to lift the spirits, though, is to start winning matches again.

Solskjaer has a relatively undemanding set of opening fixtures.

Saturday's visit to Cardiff is followed by home matches against Huddersfield Town and Bournemouth before a trip to Newcastle United.

If the Red Devils could claim 12 points from their fixtures in the festive period, not only would the mood at the club improve dramatically, but United may also be able to make up some ground on the top four.

The Manchester giants are a massive 11 points off the UEFA Champions League spots, but that gap could be cut quickly if they can string together a run of wins.