Summary
-
Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle started his news conference by shaking hands with each journalist in the room
-
Jaissle refused to specify what the target for the season is but says the club must be "ambitious"
-
Jaissle: "I have my spies… they gave me a hint that there is a special song already created"
-
The Newcastle boss said no decision has been made about who will replace Bruno Guimaraes as captain
-
Newcastle take on Everton on Wednesday in Edinburgh and play Liverpool in their first Premier League game on Sunday 23rd August with tributes to the late Kevin Keegan expected
Close form
Send us your views
Get involved
Live Reporting
Written by Emma Smith, Jude Winter, Freya Sweet, Flora Snelson & Ailsa Cowen
Most recentMost popular
-
That's your lot. Here's a reminder of just some of what the new Newcastle boss had to say:
- Jaissle began by shaking the hands of all journalists in the room
- Refused to say what the target for the season is but says the club must be ambitious
- No decision has been made about who will be the next captain
- "We are totally aware internally which positions we might need to strengthen the squad. But this is nothing for here"
For more Newcastle United news, head over to our dedicated club page.
Thanks for joining us!
41Shareclose panelCopy linkAbout sharing
-
Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesNathan in Morpeth: Has there been anything about Newcastle midfielders?
There is a recognition internally that Newcastle need to add some experience in the middle of the park following the arrivals of Aladji Bamba, 20, and Sean Steur, 18.
It is one of the main reasons why the club explored a possible move for Marseille captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
The 31-year-old is a vocal figure, who has also had the benefit of previously spending eight seasons in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton.
However, it was stressed last week that the Dane was only one of a handful of options Newcastle were considering.
The other names on that list are being closely guarded, but I would expect Newcastle to sign another midfielder and a full-back.
Then, depending on head coach Matthias Jaissle’s assessment of the current squad, the club could potentially move for another player beyond that.
121Shareclose panelCopy linkAbout sharing
-
Lots of questions about transfers today for the Newcastle boss to juggle, and we sent one the way of our Newcastle reporter Ciaran Kelly earlier…
72Shareclose panelCopy linkAbout sharing
-
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images110Shareclose panelCopy linkAbout sharing
-
Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle on whether he has made a decision on the captaincy following the departure of Bruno Guimaraes:
"No."
161Shareclose panelCopy linkAbout sharing
-
Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle on whether he has reached out to his peers who have worked with his current players (for instance, Thomas Tuchel and Dan Burn):
"Yes, I am in touch with them anyway. Sebastian [Hoeness, manager of Stuttgart, who worked with Nick Woltemade] is a close friend of mine so of course we are also chatting about the players.
"But it is also important to build your own opinion because every coach and human beings has their opinions and sometimes you're stuck in a box so it's important to bring new energy and neutral opinions about players."
211Shareclose panelCopy linkAbout sharing
-
Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle, asked whether he feels confident that he can bring the 'boogie nights' back to St James' Park [after fans created a song for him based on Baccara's Yes Sir, I can boogie]:
"I try to avoid social media. I heard it once, I was smiling. My management, the guys around me, the staff said they were really looking forward to sitting after the match in the bar and listening to the song.
"So let's see about that but I'm really happy that the fans appreciate me already a lot. I have to say the welcome was unbelievable, I'm very grateful, not only from the players but also the staff and the fans when I was having a walk yesterday in the city. It was really giving me a nice feeling."
281Shareclose panelCopy linkAbout sharing
-
Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle on the first contact he received from the club:
"I received a call at the end of July, when it was clear that most likely Eddie would quit.
"Obviously if there's first of all a club original from Premier League, and then also a club like Newcastle with that special club history, that fan base, that DNA, which is so linked to the idea of how I want to play football.
"There was no doubt or question marks but to listen and take that process further. For sure I had a big smile."
261Shareclose panelCopy linkAbout sharing
-
Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle on how much movement he is expecting in terms of transfers:
"I cannot interpret what is busy for you, probably it's different busy from what I think is busy. It's a job for Ross and the management to find solutions, to provide something.
"We are all optimistic. We have time. I am here for 36 hours in Newcastle, I had a bit of time in La Manga already to get the lads better. We work on it, that's all I can say here in the press conference. Keep the optimism."
224Shareclose panelCopy linkAbout sharing
- 253Shareclose panelCopy linkAbout sharing
-
Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle on being animated on the touchline when coming up against Premier League managers:
"I will not change my style because that's my personality. On the touchline, I am emotional. But I need to respect a bit more the box.
"I had a long line in Saudi Arabia, so I think the GPS would be quite high, if I had worn it!"
Image source, Getty Images164Shareclose panelCopy linkAbout sharing
-
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images173Shareclose panelCopy linkAbout sharing
-
Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle on whether his dressing room has enough leadership and Premier League experience:
"Obviously in that transition phase you know the players who left the club, they were great players, great characters, experienced players. and this is now a vacuum, you also call it in english, right?
"Other players need to step in. Either we adjust something in the squad, by signing these players, these profiles, or other players need to step up and fill these positions, these leadership roles.
"So I am quite optimistic, we can work in both scenarios. My job is to do the best out of it. Without telling you too much, we are aware of what we need in the squad, everyone internally is aware, and we are working toward solutions."
323Shareclose panelCopy linkAbout sharing
-
Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle on his plans to get the best out of Nick Woltemade:
"I saw that he had a difficult period. From the first day, we talked a lot, he should leave the past behind. It's something he cannot change. We are just looking forward. We find solutions, we do our best. Not only with Nick, with all the other players as well. To improve them, to find positions where they are comfortable, to work with the principles in our idea of how we want to play football. And then there's the development to see. I am really optimistic, but that counts not only for Nick, but also for the other players."
Image source, Getty Images362Shareclose panelCopy linkAbout sharing
-
Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle on the importance of strengthening at full back before the season opener:
"We are totally aware internally which positions we might need to strengthen the squad. But this is nothing for here, for the press conference. We believe in the players that we have now. And we had a chat after the match in Valencia where you were really happy that the young lads getting the chance, so that's also the approach from this club. Every minute they're getting, then they can grow.
"Like I said in my first statement, there will be adjustments in the squad. We still have time."
333Shareclose panelCopy linkAbout sharing
-
Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle on what target the hierarchy has set him for this season:
"That we are ambitious? That's the most important thing, that's why I decided to come here. But this will not happen overnight, especially when you have such a big transition phase now. Then you need to have a clear goal, a clear vision of where we want to go to, and that starts with the decision makers up in front, from the management, from the board. And then if you have that synergy with the fans, the staff, and the players, everyone included to go there. Then I'm pretty sure it will be a successful story. But we need time now. And we can only do our best day by day, breaking it down with a goal long ahead, but we've got to break it down. What is the most important thing today? What is the most important tomorrow? And if we have that approach I am really optimistic that we go in the right direction.
And what is that goal?
"I'm long enough now in the industry that you cannot promise anything, it makes no sense to promise you things now because I don't know how things look in half a year or in one year. What we can control, we will control. That's what I've described. Cutting things down, the tasks, on a daily basis, doing the best job, and then we go in the right direction. And that's going to be successful."
435Shareclose panelCopy linkAbout sharing
-
Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle on the passing of Kevin Keegan:
"I heard straight away about it because he's such a legend and I knew straight away what impact he had on that club. I think that will be also a special occasion against Liverpool, I heard that there will be some special things planned which will be emotional for sure. But I'm aware of that legacy."
Image source, Getty Images471Shareclose panelCopy linkAbout sharing
-
Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle on his connection to England manager Thomas Tuchel:
"The connection is of course there and it's been a long connection. He was my coach when I was a youth player in Stuttgart, so quite an interesting story so he was part of why I was developing quite well as a young kid.
"An amazing coach, I really admire him. I appreciate him a lot, what he did already and what he will do for sure also in the future. Because he is a really special coach, a really really good coach. I'm looking forward to staying in touch with him, also getting insights from him on the league. That's something I want to use for sure."
Image source, Getty Images344Shareclose panelCopy linkAbout sharing
-
Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle on the importance of looking after the ball following the Magpies' struggles to control games in the 2025/2026 season:
"Football is really complex. It's not only out of possession, really intense, high press, at one point, why are we doing it? To have the ball also. We want to win the ball and then we need to have solutions as well. Then you need to be smart, you have to have your identity, how we want to play – vertical, target-orientated, we want to score goals – but it also depends how our opponent is playing, this is an adaptation as well. You need to be smart with what the opponent is giving you, use their weaknesses and use our strengths."
494Shareclose panelCopy linkAbout sharing
-
Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle on whether transitional period gives him an opportunity to put his own stamp on the team:
"If you see that as a chance, we will do that. Then yes. Of course I would have loved to start from the beginning, been involved in all signings, been here from the first day, but it's something we cannot influence.
"Now we need to use every change, every day in the best possible way to adapt and improve. This is a collective task, it's not only me, it's the whole staff, the whole club, I would say. If we are all thriving in the same direction, it's going to be successful."
384Shareclose panelCopy linkAbout sharing
