Matthias Jaissle issues lengthy response on Newcastle United 'leaks', approach & hierarchy talks
Every word Newcastle United boss Matthias Jaissle on his tactics, player and hierarchy talks.
Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle faced several questions on his tactics and the concerns surrounding his team ahead of this weekend’s Premier League trip to Fulham.
The Magpies head to Craven Cottage on the back of consecutive defeats to Everton, adding to a run of five defeats in their seven matches in all competitions.
The Shields Gazette was at Jaissle’s pre-match press conference - and here’s everything he said on the key topics:
After the Everton game, you talked about the need for togetherness. Dan Burn spoke about unity. In the days since that defeat, have you felt that everybody is together and unity?
“Yes, for sure. That's always good to see, also when you start in the training and the process towards the next match again. Like Dan was confirming, we really saw that.
“That's the fundamental thing in that process at the moment, that we really can count on that unity, on that togetherness.”
You said on Monday that you were really pleased with the preparation for Everton, the things that you saw in training, but you didn't see many of them in the game. How clear do you think the players are about your instructions?
“Yeah, really clear. As we lead with open doors, we listen a lot, not only talking. For me, at least in my leadership style, it's also important that you listen to the players. We always offer them the open door, so if there's anything unclear, then they will drop in and they have the chance for it.
“But it's like always in life and in football, right? You can probably also refer to that. Sometimes you want to do your best, but it's a day where you just couldn't, and that was the case against Everton, that we unfortunately really didn't show a lot of the things we wanted to do.”
Fulham is the final match in this part of the season before a two-week break. How important do you think it is in terms of getting a big performance and result?
“Yeah, the next game is always the most important. So now also against Fulham, getting that confidence back, getting that braveness back to play our style, independent if it's at home or now in Fulham.
“To have a good result, to have then again a good feeling until the next match, when a lot of guys are with the national team. So I'm really, really looking forward now to see the right reaction against Fulham.
You were very clear on Monday night after the game when you said that the players failed to follow the plan and started playing the ball long. How much of a concern is that for you?
“Well, again, it's not to point any fingers, not at all. I just mentioned that sometimes you are willing to do something and you're also keen to do something, but on that day it just doesn't work and you may find the wrong decisions. And that was the case.
“We spoke about that clearly. We analysed that in detail, we engaged with the group and this is what your colleague also just mentioned, that this togetherness, this unity was obviously to see.
“So it sounds from the way you're speaking there that you've had to almost reinforce the message this week.”
Are you confident that the players are aligned now? That they're on board with the tactics and the style?
“Yeah, of course. Like I said, there was never a question. At least I was not aware of it. But we have such a good group and such a good relationship already that, again, the door is always open.
“If there's anything unclear, they're more than welcome to talk about that. But, again, as you see them in the training and you see then how we are doing, then I'm pretty sure that everyone understands and is fully committed.”
Is it almost a little bit confusing for you as manager as well? Because we saw it work so well against Liverpool and then against Tottenham at the start of the season?
“Yeah, of course I would love to see it consistently on a top level. We were aware of it.
“We mentioned it a couple of times already, that with that brave way with the young lads, that there will be ups and downs along the way. And now it's also a fact where in the beginning of the season there was this confidence, this bravery, this little bit mindset of I have nothing to lose. It was easy when you have the ball and you can shine, you're a bit more brave.
“This is a part of it. When you lack a little bit of confidence, then in particular when you have the ball in possession, you feel that it's a bit more heavy, not that fluent anymore and we need to work on that.
“Clearly we as a coaching team, myself as I'm the responsible guy, need to give them clear guidance, clear principles where they can work with. But these principles are also only a framework and within that framework our players are still football players, no machines, so also the decision-making is on them on the pitch.”
You talk about that word bravery, how do you as a head coach bring that bravery back to the players on a match day?
Seeing the opportunities first, seeing the chance in every situation primarily. Having that always consistently in your mind that if you're doing something with the conviction that it will lead to a reward, and this is something we can emphasise day in, day out, until they feel it again on the pitch and then it's getting automatic in their behaviour.”
Understandably, fans have been concerned about the performances against Everton. How concerned are you?
“Yeah, like your colleague said, against Crystal Palace, we showed that. I think also in the cup match against Everton there were really good elements, but the decisive ones we missed or were not good enough. Unfortunately then, in the second match against Everton, we missed many, many things.
“Now it's on us to step back again, to overcome that downwards direction, to go again in the right direction and show better performances. We work hard, that's the only thing we can do. Analyse it in detail, speak, and then do better.”
Could you give us some flavour of what the mood has been like since Monday?
“Yeah, of course, you don't see the happiest players, but you see players where their face, it's obvious to see that they want to show a reaction. They're also giving me the feeling that they want to be responsible for that.
“So we address that, the players address that also, within them, which is good, to step up in all the things we can influence, and that's in particular the training sessions, to use every situation, to do the small details better, because in the end the details are deciding games.”
There's been a lot of stuff about your future this week. Have you felt any extra pressure? Do you still feel supported from above?
“I try to not follow the things what is written, but of course here and there you get some comments. But the nice part is that I got even more of the feeling from within the club how committed they are, and that's something really important in a week where there are speculations or rumours.
“This is something we cannot influence, so that was good, good to know, good to feel, but I try again also in these aspects not being distracted.”
How does that support from above come across? What exactly does that mean?
“Well, there's no need for meetings, you feel that in the everyday work. We're working here on the training ground every day from the morning till the evening, and this is something you feel then.
“And of course, you get here and there a message, and that just shows me that everyone is believing in the long-term project, and that everyone also is aware and is realistic about the journey and where we are right now.”
Would you ever consider changing your structure, your frameworks?
“Yeah, as you may see as well or saw, we already adjusted here and there, our framework, our principles, always according to the opposition, always according to the players available on the match day, and again, these are only frameworks, tools, we can provide the players, support the players with that.
“In the end, they are also human beings and players, where they can decide things within that framework by themselves, because in the end, they are on the pitch, it's not a PlayStation game where I can play through from the sidelines.”
So, does that decision-making have to be better then?
“Again, there are a couple of aspects, it's too easy to say,it's only decision-making, but there were elements, of course, where you can consider that the decision-making was not right.
“But we spoke about that clearly, and emphasised them, encouraged them, because sometimes, especially in possession, you tend to make not the right decisions if that easiness is not there, that confidence is not there, and it's on us then to build that again.”
How are you? You're only two months in to Premier League management, but you’ve probably found that it's a pretty volatile place in terms of the noise and the reaction on the outside.
“Yeah, I try to focus on the things I can influence, and that's not the rumours and the speculations, and that's the things which are not true. So this is, I think, something I'm really consistent in my approach.
“I try to handle the things that I can influence and try to be a bit and try to be the eye in the storm. There's a lot of storm at the moment, so if you're within then you don't feel it at that level, but you can oversee it and you need to be still clear and you need to improve the things that you can improve.
“At the moment we have some aspects where we need to do better, and that remains our full focus.”
During conversations with the players this week, have you mentioned long ball versus playing on the floor?
“Yeah, I think this is a bit of, I don't know if it's a misinterpretation or a language barrier, but that's an element, of course. The language barrier, I mean, when I explained that in the press conference.
“But it's indeed the fact that we address, because we talked sometimes about the no-risk zone, where we had previously critical ball losses, leading then to goals. And of course, if there's a clear risk for a ball loss, then I rather prefer playing a long ball to our striker and protecting that ball and develop the game from there.
“But there also comes a bit maybe then with the decision-making, but it also comes with confidence. If you then also have scenarios where you can find easily your teammate on the ground and we build up from there with our patterns, then you should for sure also prefer that.
“But it's not easy, it's easier said from outside. If the pressure is there, if the confidence is missing a bit, then rather you prefer to be really safe and shooting maybe even more often the long ball rather than finding on the ground a solution which is maybe combined with a bit more risk.”
How concerned are you by the lack of goals coming from forward positions?
“I think they know it by themselves. I don't need to even mention a striker. Needs to be always aware of every situation in the game.
“When there's anything just coming in the penalty area or in the box, then I need to be there as a striker. I need to have that nose, that feeling and everything. Or if something is dropping for a second ball or there's a cross possible, that I'm there. And they know it, they work hard on that, they work hard on the finishes, and we can be for sure more efficient and hopefully in the future we see that progress.”
You mentioned the lack of confidence. How concerned are you that could become a bigger issue if you don't pick up results quickly?
“We can build that anyway. We can build that in the training sessions, we can build that in the analysis, because the potential is there. And it's on us now to boost that, to give that back in the best possible way, whatever we can influence.
“And then belief, belief in the process, belief in the things, what we can do better. Because we showed that already, and emphasised that, make that somehow as a reminder in their head again. And then I think it's easier on the pitch to feel that, and then the results will come.”
You spoke about having a young squad. When you're in tough moments like this, do you feel the players have enough to handle the pressure and criticism?
“It's not easy, and the players need to get used to it. Of course we have some experienced players. Dan Burn, I think he had already up and downs in his career, so he's easier in handling that situation.
“The young lads, of course, for them it's also new. And for them it's also new to learn then how to overcome this period. But we are here to support. And that's not only myself, that's my whole staff. That's all employees here in the club, working with the players. And that's our job now.”