NEWCASTLE have endured a summer of chaos with three star players and the manager out of the door.
But if the exodus has left the Toon Army fearing the worst, the buzzword within the club is “transition”.
Matthias Jaissle had one key buzzword after taking over Newcastle united Credit: Getty
The German met Jattvibe Sport and fellow North East journalists in La Manga on Thursday Credit: Getty
New boss Matthias Jaissle used it five times in a ten minute interview with the media here in La Manga – after firstly refusing to use the recent big name exits as an excuse not to succeed.
Fresh from losing captain Bruno Guimaraes, as well as the departures of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, Eddie Howe’s replacement Jaissle was ice cool as he sat on a stool in a La Manga club house to answer questions.
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The 38-year-old German faces a baptism of fire and has his work cut out to get Newcastle into shape in time for the Prem season opener against Liverpool in 16 days time.
But while Howe no longer had the energy for the fight anymore, Jaissle had no doubt in the sweltering 34 degree heat he would have his squad ready for the Reds.
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He said: “I’m confident to do the best out of that short amount of time.
“Of course it’s another challenge, because there’s not too many days left until the first match against Liverpool, but that’s now the phase.
“You cannot change anything, I cannot ask the squad director to turn the time back again. So, again, all together, the whole staff, we tried to encourage them in the first meeting already, that now it’s even more important that everyone raises the standards, and the same we expect from the players, to find that unity and that DNA of how we want to play football already in the first match.”
Toon’s performance director James Bunce described the short turnaround to install the new man’s ideas as “speed dating with no time to waste”.
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But no matter what work goes on, many feel Howe hit the glass ceiling by lifting the Carabao Cup and qualifying for the Champions League in 2025, especially given the financial handcuffs imposed by SCR rules.
It has forced Toon into flogging several star names. Recruitment has focused on bringing in a host of promising, though some unproven, prodigies to bolster the ranks.
From the outside looking in, the glory days appear to be way off. But Jaissle, despite his tender years, says leading a young team to the top is his speciality.
He said: “It was a really, really successful story under Eddie. There’s huge respect for what he was building and now there are many, many changes. But, that’s a chance and we want to build on that chance and start growing.
“In Salzburg I had a couple of challenges but we were so successful. Then in Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, I took over a club that was just promoted and we were also quite successful there. “So I can manage when there are a lot of challenges within the club and the transition and working with young players. This is the approach and also why I’m here now.”
Jaissle does arrive with silverware on his CV. He won the double in his first season at Salzburg and retained the league the next while reaching the Champions League knockouts.
Matthias Jaissle officially took charge of the Mags on Wednesday Credit: Getty
Two years later he helped transform Al-Ahli into one of Asia’s top sides, leading them to back-to-back AFC Champions League crowns and a Saudi Super Cup.
Managing in the Premier League against some of the game’s greatest coaches is a whole different ball game.
And trophies are very much on the agenda on Tyneside.
He said: “This is something I don’t have on my CV, but that’s normal in football. At one point it has to be your first step and I’m now at that moment after being successful in Saudi Arabia and Austria. Everyone was dreaming about being a part of the Premier League and now here we are.
“I have always big ambitions. That’s the key element for every coach, otherwise I would be not here.
“That’s the same here now in Newcastle, but it’s always easy saying where we want to go and on which place we want to end up. For me, it doesn’t make too much sense in football because it’s difficult to plan things in advance.
EDDIE HOWE’S RECORD AT NEWCASTLE
EDDIE HOWE will forever be a Newcastle legend after leading the Toon to their first trophy in 70 years.
But that Carabao Cup win, and two Champions League qualifications, weren’t enough to keep everyone happy on Tyneside.
Here is Howe’s Newcastle record:
Premier League
2021-22 – 11th (19th when he took over)
2022-23 – 4th
2023-24 – 7th
2024-25 – 5th
2025-26 – 12th
Trophies won
Carabao Cup 2024-25
“As you probably know, therefore, it’s for me the most important thing that you just do your best every day and get the best out of the players, try to improve them, support them, give them also the courage to grow, and that’s now the phase where we’re in in the pre-season, and therefore I’m really much looking forward.”
Both a member of the Saudi Public Investment Fund, who own 80 per cent of the club, and Jamie Reuben, who owns the rest, were on camp at the Hotel Grand Hyatt La Manga Club.
Newcastle CEO David Hopkinson, whose aim is to be “in the debate about being the top club in the world” by 2030, and sporting director Ross Wilson were too.
They all want a return on the £9.5m compensation fee paid for Jaissle. But with such a young squad, the Toon Army may be in for a few more rough moments before the Mags are flying high again.
But bullish Jaissle, who used the magic word one final time, cannot wait to get going.
Jaissle added: “This is now a transition phase, but I’m really excited now to finally officially be here in the camp already. I’m even more looking forward to seeing them back home in Newcastle and start that journey.”
The 38-year-old faces Liverpool during his first Prem game at the helm Credit: Getty
