Newcastle United haven’t played well for years at Crystal Palace. Performance goes out the window this weekend, they’d take a win by any means.
The Magpies head to Crystal Palace looking to claim three points, having surrendered nine of their last 12. A win would go a long way to settling nerves - and doesn’t Matthias Jaissle know it.
Here’s everything the German head coach said about the challenge ahead, players returning and potential selection decisions from his press conference at Benton on Friday.
Matias Fernandez-Pardo fitness?
“Matias still has some issues health-wise, so he can only train partially. Hopefully he can make it until the weekend.”
Squad fitness update, including Anthony Elanga
“First of all, I’m pleased that slowly we’re getting the players back. Now the next question is their physical level, so we need to take that also step by step. For sure, he’s not able to play 90 minutes, but he trained and worked really hard in the rehab, so I count on him for sure, as he’s hopefully also ready now to be at least able to join the squad, and then maybe it’s the first time that he also gets some minutes.
“On one hand you would like to bring them straight away on the pitch, starting with them, but on the other hand you need to think also in the long term and find then the right balance that the load management is also good enough that we’re not risking anything. We try to manage that in the best possible way, but you can be sure that I miss them and I would love to have them fit for 90 minutes and able to play.”
Dan Burn, Will Osula and Amar Dedic fit to start?
“We still have two days left and they’re doing progress. This is something important now in that period that you feel that the physical level is improving. Also during the week in the training sessions, so that’s something we can count on. Maybe one or the other are fit enough to start.”
Update on Jacob Ramsey fitness
Also with him, we’re happy that he’s back on the pitch, which also counts the same for the other lads who just returned, that we need to take it step by step and have that load management really on our sheet, that we’re not taking too much risk.
Why no Sean Steur in the last two games?
“First of all, we’re all sure, the whole club, the whole coaching staff and I think also the players, what great potential Sean has. He showed that already. He showed that also, like many other lads, that there are ups and downs already here in that season, but this is normal and this is something we were aware of already beforehand. Now it’s time that he’s getting that confidence, that maturity for a player who didn’t have that experience in the Premier League also throughout the training sessions, throughout the training weeks.
“We see that for sure as a long-term project. Now, Nico was doing a good job in his position, so that’s a competition, but he’s waving with his hands or putting the finger up in the training, so we are happy with his progress and he should just keep going like this.”
What improvements, if any, are you seeing?
“I think the game between the boxes is getting better and better. Also now, the occasions where we allowed Aston Villa to score were really minimised, but of course we want to take them down to zero to have that clean sheet in the end. On the other hand, I think also there were a couple of occasions where we could really threaten their position, and these occasions we need to use them and transform it into goals. So these elements we improved, we also improved in the training sessions already, but now it’s time to make it count on the match day.”
Good time to play Palace?
“I think there’s always a time where you would like to play against opposition, and there are also times where you would maybe not like to play against opposition, but that could change from one day to the other. They got a heavy defeat against Brighton, so maybe they want to show an even better reaction. So it’s difficult to say, we can only focus on us, and we are aware of what we just mentioned, where we can improve, what we can control, and this is something we did now. Throughout the week we have tomorrow one more training session with the lads, and then we fully focus on the match and on the match plan to deliver a better performance.”
Difficult hearing fans boo (after Aston Villa)?
“Well, first of all, I always said that it’s a privilege to be the coach of Newcastle United. I would not say that’s huge pressure, I would use another word. It’s a great and a huge responsibility to take that job, to also lead them throughout a negative period. That was something we were aware of, there were already positive signs at the start of the season, now there’s a setback at the moment and you need to overcome that. Of course, during half-time you would love to say everything is perfect and you’re leading 3-0, but that’s rarely in football, so you need to use that time, you don’t need to think and you should not think about the pressure and something else. You’re in a zone, you just focus on what can influence, what tools can you provide to the players to make it better in the second half, and after the match it’s the same. The disappointment of the fans is a part of the game, they’re passionate, especially our supporters, but they’re great, and then it’s also normal that they show the disappointment.”
Good to play away from St James’ Park?
“I would love to play every match at home.
“Yes, because they are great supporters, they give us the energy, and again, this is normal in football, they have high expectations as well, and they deserve to have these high expectations and we need to deliver.”
NUFC job more challenging than you thought?
Well, I had already the expectations that it would be a tough one, especially due to the fact that we joined really late, we were aware of the brave journey we were going to have, and this is something you need to calculate. Of course, we all hoped that it would go more smooth, because I’m more on the optimistic side when I take a new challenge, but this is now the reality and we need to face that. Like you know, we had a great start, everything was driving in the right direction, now there’s a setback and we need to overcome that. But that makes you stronger, that makes the player stronger, probably that makes you in life as well stronger, when you overcome, as a journalist, some setbacks.
Surprised people question tactics so soon?
I think I’m still young, but long enough in that industry that I’m aware that’s normal. If you have now two defeats in a row, that these questions are coming, that’s normal and that’s also something I’m aware that you’re just doing your job.
Is the team close to delivering what you want?
“Yeah, we have for sure a lot of potential still. I don’t want to name now a percentage, but there’s still quite a good gap to be filled. It’s still part, and this is something I just mentioned a couple of days ago, within the club to some decision-makers, that sometimes we still feel in the pre-season, when we train with the group, and now finally with almost every player on the pitch, that was not possible in the past weeks. So we’re still implementing basics for our way of playing, so it takes time, this is a progress. I think the good part is that everyone within the club is realistic and sees that.”
How important is it the fans trust the process?
“That’s always really important…
“It’s about believing in the progress, I think now also, even though there were two defeats, you could see phases where we improved already, now also an element that’s important is that the injured players are back, mature leaders are back, especially for a young team this is really helpful, that gives you more stability, especially when you miss so many leaders from the transfers we did in summer, and that’s a vacuum you need to refill, and this is now important that the lads who are coming back, the mature, experienced players can refill that.”
Is the midfield too exposed due to the formation?
“Again, this is something you cannot say it’s black and white, it’s how you interpret the different formations. Yes, that’s an adaptation we like to have a couple of times, but always according to the opposition. It can change already now against Crystal Palace, but that usually gives us against teams who are not attacking so high a bit of flexibility, in the build-up, between the centre-backs, with a connection player, and then you have more players in the last line, because of course our goal and our approach is to threaten the opposition more in their box. Then it’s pure mathematics in that aspect, to bring more bodies there. It’s the case how you lock them in afterwards, if you lose the ball or you don’t finish the attack, if you don’t get the final shot. These are things we can improve independently, if you build up with a 3-1 or 4-1 or 3-2 structure. Regardless of the formation, it’s more about the principles you need to deliver on the pitch.”
That gap in midfield - is that something you’ve picked up on when reviewing the game plan?
“Sure, that’s one element that we need to invest too much in the defensive transition, and you need to lock them in, the opposition, straight away. And it starts in possession, you need to find there the right structure, to not allow the opposition to come after a ball loss so easily in our box, where we need to run back many, many metres in a high, intense sprint. These things we can for sure avoid, pretty simple. In my eyes, it’s always easier on the tactical board and in the analyse room, but that’s something we need to improve for sure.”
What feedback did leadership group give from conversations this week?
“That’s the good part, that they aligned with us in the coaching team. I mentioned it before, we’re sitting all in the same boat, we’re transparent, that’s my leadership style, not only talking, I think leadership is also me listening, and out of the door, if we go there together as a team, or stepping on the pitch, we need to be committed and we need to be aligned, going in the same direction, and that’s the case, so that’s something I’m proud of. To see that, to see that commitment, to see that hard-working ethic during the training sessions and during the week, these are all elements which leads hopefully to success.”