Ole Gunnar Solskjaer met Sir Alex Ferguson for a cup of tea before his first match at the Manchester United helm, with the caretaker boss warning his players he will replicate the Scot's infamous 'hairdryer' treatment if needs be.
It has been a turbulent week at Old Trafford, with Jose Mourinho's 2-1/2 years in the dugout brought to an abrupt halt on Wednesday (NZ time) in the wake of the club's worst-ever start to a Premier League season.
Solskjaer, who represented the club as a player with aplomb before spending time as reserve team boss, was installed as caretaker boss for the remainder of the season and kicks off his reign at former club Cardiff this weekend.
The Norwegian endured a torrid time at the Welsh club, overseeing relegation in 2014, but feels he has developed since then.
Plus, Solskjaer also has one of the best sounding boards around in United great Ferguson.
"I have been in touch with the gaffer quite a bit," the Norwegian, a hero of the 1999 treble season, said.
"I am going to enjoy a nice cup of tea back at his house to sit down and discuss a few ideas."
Solskjaer says "there's no one to get better advice from", nor was there anybody better to learn from up close - even if it that meant copping the abrasive 'hairdryer' treatment back in the day.
"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 then, 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, but if I get disappointed ..."
Solskjaer clearly relishes this opportunity and barely stopped smiling during the press conference on the eve of facing Cardiff, when the possibility of staying on as full-time manager next summer was broached.
"I'm ambitious, but I understand that the club is doing a process," said Solskjaer, who is due to return to Norwegian club Molde in May.
"I have the perfect life back home now, I have to say, and then suddenly I get this phone call.
"If we come to May, I've done a good job and they've found a new manager, fantastic. My aim now is to do a good job the next five or six months.
"I trust the lads to know what they're doing, to help the team. We have one target - that we succeed - and we do that as a team."
PA
