Jaissle starts with win but not planning to ‘smash locker room’

By admin — In News — August 9, 2026

   ​Matthias Jaissle joined Newcastle United from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli [Getty Images]It was a night which ended with Newcastle United lifting silverware, but there was certainly no danger of new head coach Matthias Jaissle getting carried away. Not after defeating Valencia in his first pre-season friendly in charge at the Mestalla Stadium.”We will not smash the locker room now and celebrate a lot,” he said after the 2-1 Orange Trophy win. “We still have a lot to work on.”That was quickly apparent after Newcastle fell behind inside four minutes, following Filip Ugrinic’s curling opener.But Jaissle will have taken heart from his players’ response in a feisty contest, not least after Anthony Elanga was stretchered off following a bad tackle from Jose Gaya, which earned the Spaniard a red card.Although Jaissle readily admitted he was “in fear” after seeing Elanga in distress, the Newcastle forward was walking a little later and it is not thought to be a serious injury after he bruised his shin.Newcastle could have lost their heads, but striker Yoane Wissa came off the bench to score two goals, while fellow substitutes Bazoumana Toure and Sean Steur also caught the eye following their summer moves from Hoffenheim and Ajax respectively.”Winning games always helps to gain confidence,” Jaissle said. “We also knew that we had a hard week behind us. “The players did well and there was a huge commitment to see in each session, so they really deserve two days off and then we start again.”Wissa & Toure star as Jaissle wins first Newcastle friendly – ratingsInside Newcastle 2.0 – how the project is changing’Time is the key’There has been little time to waste following a period of dramatic change at the club.Former head coach Eddie Howe has moved on and key players Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon have all left in the last year.Gallows humour gripped some supporters who made the trip after they adapted a chant which once featured the names of Guimaraes and Isak, who are now with Arsenal and Liverpool.”We’ve got someone in the middle,” they sang. “He knows exactly what we need. [Sven] Botman at the back, someone in attack, Newcastle are going to win the Premier League.”But it is not hard to imagine those blanks being filled in as a new generation steps up.The average age of the squad has been dramatically lowered and 28-year-old forward Harvey Barnes was Newcastle’s oldest starter against Valencia.It felt like a potential sign of things to come on a night goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek, 24, midfielder Aladji Bamba, 20 and forward Toure, 20, made their debuts and 18-year-old Steur impressed from the bench.Jaissle has a history of developing young players at RB Salzburg, which was a big draw for Newcastle, and he knows better than most what they need.”Time is the key,” Jaissle said. “They’re young lads. It’s never going to be easy in football, especially at the highest level, but we’re here to do that.”Malick Thiaw was among th  

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