‘Non-negotiable’ - Matthias Jaissle lays down Newcastle United marker in first big interview
Matthias Jaissle explained what Newcastle United supporters can expect - and what he asks for in return.
Matthias Jaissle has promised to bring “front-footed, intense, aggressive” football to Newcastle United supporters.
A club announcement last night confirmed the German as Eddie Howe’s successor. Jaissle - a relative unknown to English football - built a fierce reputation in Austria and Saudi Arabia during his fledgling career.
Howe’s resignation came after a 12th-placed finish and several high-profile exits. The attacking football from his first three-and-a-half years in the dugout was missing - and Jaissle is bowing to bring it back.
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‘Non negotiable’ - Matthias Jaissle
As well as his playing style, the 38-year-old laid down the gauntlet with three non-negotiables: trust, respect and pure commitment. When asked what Newcastle fans can expect, he told the club website: “Always front-footed, really intense, aggressive, definitely vertical in our approach… how we want to play football.
“I think that's a perfect fit to the DNA of Newcastle United. There are also some values for me that are not negotiable. We just talked with the staff members about these three values I use: trust, respect and pure commitment.
“If everyone is on the same boat and we go in the same direction, then it's going to be a really successful journey. We only have three weeks (until the start of the season). Now is the transition. We try to build up what Eddie was doing here, an amazing development over the last (few) years, and we just try to build on that.”
Matthias Jaissle rallies Newcastle United fans
Jaissle also urged Newcastle fans to stick by the team as he weathers a tricky transition period. He added: “If the fans behind us are giving us that energy, then I think that synergy is an amazing weapon we can use in the league. I'm really, really looking forward to seeing them in St James’ Park.
“It will be straight away all about intensity, going forward, don't hesitate (and) trying to bring that DNA straight away in the mind of the players. I can't wait, honestly.
“Please support us like you did in the past, to go together on that journey, now in that challenging moment what we have in the transition, building on what was already (here), what was built amazingly. Now we go forward and we need everyone of them in the stadium, in the city and, together with the players and the staff, we can be a unit and a real weapon.”
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