Ole
Gunnar Solskjaer says he will be no pushover as he attempts to save Manchester
United's season, vowing to get the best out of Paul Pogba, who fell out
spectacularly with Jose Mourinho.
Former
Old Trafford favourite Solskjaer -- known in his playing days as the
"Baby-faced Assassin", has been appointed as caretaker manager until
the end of the season after Mourinho was sacked earlier this week.
The
Norwegian, 45, who spent nearly 15 years with United as a player and reserve
team coach, has stressed the importance of his stars playing with a smile on
their faces under his leadership after a miserable season so far.
But he
also said he would not be afraid to take a leaf out of the disciplinary book of
his former United manager and mentor Alex Ferguson, whose legendary temper
tantrums became known as the "hairdryer" treatment.
"We
are all different to how we manage people and the manager (Ferguson) was
different to every individual," said Solskjaer.
"Of
course, 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 really because you want
the best for them, you want to guide them, you want to help them."
Solskjaer's
promotion from Norwegian club Molde, who have "loaned" him to United,
has surprised many in football.
But he
has been a popular appointment, not least because he has worked with a number
of the club's current players in his previous coaching role.
- Pogba fallout -
Pogba,
whose relationship with Mourinho had been little short of toxic this season,
was a member of Solskjaer's reserve team in 2010 and the interim boss has
pledged to try and return him to the form he showed in helping France win the
World Cup.
"He's
a World Cup winner," said Solskjaer. "Paul 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."
While
Pogba's new manager dismisses the argument that the balance of power in
football clubs has shifted to the players, he has reminded the Frenchman, and
others, about their responsibilities with regards to social media.
Pogba
quickly deleted a controversial social media post of him smiling after manager
Mourinho was sacked.
"I'm
not sure about you saying the power has gone to the dressing room," he
said. "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."
Solskjaer's first game in charge will be at his former club Cardiff although he appears likely to be without forward Romelu Lukaku, who has been absent from the club this week, attending to a personal matter.
AFP