Matthias Jaissle is preparing for his first competitive match in the Premier League dugout with a message of optimism, insisting his revamped Newcastle United squad is moving forward despite a summer of significant upheaval.
The 38-year-old German takes charge of his opening fixture at St James' Park on Sunday against Liverpool, a game that carries extra weight beyond the three points on offer. Both clubs will pause before kick-off to honor the memory of Kevin Keegan, a figure whose legacy resonates deeply at both institutions, before the action begins in what has historically been one of English football's more compelling rivalries.
Jaissle inherits a Newcastle side that looks markedly different from the one Eddie Howe guided for nearly five years. The club has parted ways with several influential figures over the summer, with Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier all departing. Rebuilding around a younger core has been the priority throughout an intense preseason, and Jaissle believes the foundations being laid are sound.
"First of all, I'm really grateful. I consider it a huge privilege to be coach of Newcastle United at this stage of my career already," Jaissle said. "But I also feel that's a huge responsibility – and I'm aware of that – so what I can do is every day giving my best to try to improve, to try to support the lads in the way we're doing it right now."
He added that the players' response to the transition has been encouraging. "I'm really, really happy with the commitment the lads show on the training ground and we're going totally in the right direction, so I'm happy and I'm really grateful."
Jaissle was confirmed as Howe's successor on August 5, shortly after Howe opted to step aside following his lengthy and largely successful tenure on Tyneside. The German, who previously managed RB Salzburg and Al-Ahli, has had little time to settle in before facing one of the division's traditional heavyweights, but he says he has embraced the whirlwind start to his reign.
Asked to reflect on his first weeks in the role, Jaissle described the experience as intense but rewarding. "Amazing. Challenging, a lot of work," he said. "I consider the training ground at the moment as my home, which is normal and fine at this stage. I can say only good things."
He also found room for humor when discussing his adjustment to life in the northeast of England. "The biggest challenge probably is what I have mentioned already: the dialect of some of your colleagues and maybe the driving on the left side. But all these things are easy to handle in the future. I'm fine."
Looking ahead to Sunday's tribute to Keegan and the subsequent contest with Liverpool, Jaissle expressed eagerness to finally lead his team out in front of the Newcastle faithful. "I can't wait to be there in the stadium, to coach the team in front of our fans. Of course, now it is a challenging period, like I've described now already a couple of times," he said. "We want to use now the remaining days in the best possible way, get our ideas into the players' heads and then hopefully we can also deliver that already on a higher level."
Newcastle will be missing full-back Tino Livramento and midfielder Joelinton for the match, though there is a possibility that new arrival Amar Dedic could be given his first appearance for the club.
Based on reporting from The Independent.