FA Cup semi-finalist Erik ten Hag has gone 'mad' at his Manchester United players in a bid to stop their promising season ending in collapse.
United face Brighton at Wembley on Sunday still hurting from a humiliating Europa League exit against Sevilla on Thursday night when they were trounced 3-0 to bow out 5-2 on aggregate.
The normally-considered manager admitted bringing out the Haardroger — the Dutch equivalent to Sir Alex Ferguson's notorious hairdryer — to rebuke his squad for what he regarded as the cardinal sin of lacking effort.
'I was really mad. If you play a European quarter-final you give everything, and we didn't,' said Ten Hag.
'I made the players aware in the dressing room of my feelings, my analysis. They didn't match the standards of who I manage in professional football.
'As a manager I can't accept that my team is not giving its best. For the team and individuals, I will never accept it. Sometimes I can go strong in certain situations. It's about the timing of when to use. As a coach, you can pick many styles and this is one of them.'
Mark Hughes coined the phrase Hairdryer to describe Ferguson's habit of standing so close to players he shouted at, he could dry their hair with his breath.
United fans will get an immediate chance to see how their team react as they bid to reach their first FA Cup final since 2018 when Jose Mourinho's side were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea.
Opponents Brighton have played eight fewer matches this season and have had a full week to prepare for Wembley while Ten Hag's men flew direct from Spain on Friday morning to London.