Matthias Jaissle has reflected on his first two months as Newcastle United head coach.
Matthias Jaissle has admitted that imposing his ideas on Newcastle United has been 'tougher than expected' - but insists his process will work in the Premier League.
Newcastle United's German head coach Matthias Jaissle gestures for a substitution during the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Newcastle United at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on September 14, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)placeholder image
Newcastle United's German head coach Matthias Jaissle gestures for a substitution during the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Newcastle United at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on September 14, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Jaissle has overseen just one defeat in his first seven matches in all competitions, but the 38-year-old has found it harder to implement his ideas as quickly as he would have liked.
After replacing Eddie Howe midway through a chaotic summer that saw Newcastle lose several key players, a period of transition was inevitable.
Newcastle United's German head coach Matthias Jaissle gestures for a substitution during the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Newcastle United at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on September 14, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)placeholder image
Newcastle United's German head coach Matthias Jaissle gestures for a substitution during the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Newcastle United at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on September 14, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
The Newcastle head coach believes there have already been signs of the football he wants to build, but accepts his side remain some distance from the finished product.
“I think there were elements in games where we saw a lot of the things we were looking for. There were also phases in games where we were not happy and satisfied.”
Jaissle has made clear his frustration at Newcastle's lack of training time, particularly during pre-season, when friendly matches were scheduled every few days after his arrival.
“Considering the circumstances, and we need to remind ourselves always, as well in the coaching staff, because we have these high demands, that we are not long here now and we don't have too much training time.
“So it was tough. It's really tough, tougher than expected, to get the stuff and the principles implemented into the players' heads.”
The recent 4-1 defeat at Leeds United underlined the work still to do, but Jaissle remains encouraged by the bigger picture.
“Considering all these things, we're doing good," he admitted.
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'The style will work'
While implementing his philosophy has proven difficult, Jaissle's conviction in his methods has not wavered.
“The style will work anywhere," he said.
At Al-Ahli, the German's intense, vertical football came under scrutiny before helping deliver two Asian Champions League titles.
“They questioned it in Saudi Arabia," Jaissle added. "'Can you play that style when it is 40 degrees outside? Can you play it when players are maybe not at the physical level that you have had before?
“We showed it is possible.”