Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been putting lots of smiles back on faces at Manchester United over the past three-and-a-half weeks but there was a stark reminder last weekend that the interim manager is not there simply to play happy families.

Anyone who was in the dressing room at half-time of United’s FA Cup tie against Reading at Old Trafford last Saturday to watch Solskjaer unleash his own version of Sir Alex Ferguson’s infamous “hairdryer” will have learnt very quickly that, beneath the baby-faced veneer and easy charm, lies a strong personality who will not tolerate a drop in standards.

United were leading 2-0 but Solskjaer was unhappy with what he had seen and had no hesitation about letting rip. Screaming directly into the faces of players in true Ferguson style, Solskjaer unloaded for a minute or two. Rant over and point made, the focus then switched to calmly discussing how United would tackle the second half.

The incident is instructive because, while Solskjaer oozes genuine warmth and compassion and has wasted no time transforming the mood at United after Jose Mourinho’s joyless, corrosive regime ended up breeding loathing, resentment and paranoia, it debunks any notion that the Norwegian might be a pushover.