Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer fires warning: I'm not afraid to copy Sir Alex Ferguson

Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer fires warning: I'm not afraid to copy Sir Alex Ferguson (Image: GETTY )

Manchester United’s caretaker manager has his first match in charge as he seeks to make the job his own at struggling Cardiff on Saturday evening.

While he maintained he wants to see the team “smiling and winning games again”, he insisted he is prepared to rattle cages and egos if needed.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s explosive dressing-downs – dubbed the ‘hairdryer treatment’ – were infamous during his time.

Asked how his style will compare, Solskjaer said: “We are all different to how we manage people and the manager [Ferguson] was different with every individual.

"But I have a hairdryer and when my hair needs lifting I use it on myself but I am also not afraid of if you like laying down the law,” he said.

"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 really because you want the best for them, you want to guide them, your want to help them, but if I get disappointed?

"Ask Noah, or Karna or Elijah [his three children] or some of the players I had in Molde. Once in a while you really have to tell them the standards we have.”

Pogba will be looking to get back into the starting line-up (Image: GETTY )

Solskjaer has said that the United players get a 'clean slate' under him (Image: GETTY )

Solskjaer, who admitted he would love to land the United job on a full-time basis, has spoken with several players since his arrival on Thursday after Jose Mourinho’s sacking.

That included a chat with Paul Pogba, whose relationship with former manager Mourinho was strained to say the least.

But the new manager said he will judge the midfielder on how he finds him and not on reputation, insisting there was a clear line in the sand.

"Everyone here starts with a clean slate,” said Solsjkaer.

"Everyone is part of Manchester United with me as the coach or manager. I feel players play better when they are happy and that is just the way I will manage them."

Sir Alex Ferguson was United manager for nearly 30 years (Image: GETTY )

"I’ve spoken to most of the players, I’ve had some time with the staff as well, but of course the game [on Saturday] is the first big decision to make so I pick a team.”

Romelu Lukaku will not be available to the new manager on account of him being given compassionate leave by Mourinho to deal with a personal issue.

But the new boss will be hoping his squad provide him with the perfect start against Cardiff, the club he managed in 2014, as he seeks to lay down a marker to get the job full-time.

"I wouldn’t be here if not. I’m ambitious,” he said when asked whether he wants the job beyond May.

"But I understand the club is doing a process and I’m happy to help out and my job now for the next six months is to do as well as I can and move Manchester United forward as well as I can.”

Solsjkaer added: “I understand there are so many managers who would love to be manager of Manchester United and I am one of them.”