Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits he's "mellowed" over the years in the game.

Ferguson was a special guest at the inaugural Aspire4Sport conference in Qatar, and admitted he has mellowed as a manager but it still prepared to give his players the hairdryer treatment if warranted.

The 68-year-old said he had forced himself to keep pace with players' modern habits, admitting their lifestyles are a new phenomenon for him.

"I've mellowed a great deal," he said. "The world has changed and so have players' attitudes.

"I'm dealing with more fragile human beings than I used to be. They are cocooned by modern parents, agents, even their own image at times.

"They need to be seen with their tattoos and earrings. It's a different world for me so I have had to adapt.

"There is nothing wrong with losing your temper if it's for the right reasons. But I never leave it till the next day. I don't believe in that.

"Some managers wait till Monday when they say things are calmer but I want to let it go after the game because I am already planning for the next one. Once I let it go, it's finished and I don't bring it up again. I don't wait till tomorrow."