Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle is confident that the backing of the club's fans will help the team through a demanding run of fixtures between now and the start of December. With the Magpies on 12 points from 10 games during the international break, Newcastle are set to face Arsenal at home, Brighton away, Manchester United at home and Sunderland at home in their upcoming matches.
Special energy at St James' Park
Jaissle hopes that the "special energy" he has witnessed at St James' Park can carry the team through what could be a defining period. Strong performances will be required in most games, but beating Sunderland in any form would keep critics at bay for the German head coach.
Wor Flags and Newcastle fans are expected to prepare something special for derby day, and Jaissle is keen to use that atmosphere as the spark to win a Premier League derby for the first time since 2011.
Pragmatic approach and rebuilding confidence
Asked whether big emotional occasions help him play to his strengths as manager, with the Liverpool game used as an example, Jaissle told beIN Sports: "Yeah, of course, if the crowd is behind us all the time, it gives that special energy to the lads and you see that and also on the pitch."
He added: "Now it's about getting the confidence back after defeats; you saw that now also against Everton. In the league match, the confidence was not that high and we need to rebuild that."
Despite talk of "vertical football", Jaissle has made clear he wants to keep things pragmatic in the games ahead. He said: "Yeah, exactly. This is sometimes what the games are needing, so like Crystal Palace, it was clear that we need to be tough in the duels, a more man-to-man approach."
He continued: "But also what the opposition is giving us when we have the ball, so we need it to be also started at the approach and it was maybe not the most beautiful game, but in the end, a deserved win. And that's something what I just said, you need to adjust here and there in the match plan and the process as well, in the present, to be successful."
Learning lessons and trusting the process
Jaissle has already learned some harsh lessons as Newcastle boss but showed strength in sticking with his principles at Fulham by continuing with his 4-2-3-1 formation. Having taken the lead at Craven Cottage, another defensive lapse cost him what would have been a valuable victory.
Jaissle, who came in mid pre-season and was handed summer signings that were not his picks, feels it is too early to be judged. Asked if it would be fair to assess his performance after 38 matches in the Premier League, he said: "Would be fair, yes, but we also know that in these days, in football, you don't get the time, the pressure is so high, so it's always the balance between finding a way to improve the young lads, engaging with them so much that."
He added: "They will develop in the best possible way, and on the other hand, finding also the balance to perform on the weekend, match to match as we also need results. I think they know that it needs time that they need to be. Patient, passionate, yes, but patient as well. We need to trust the process, with this young squad to make the next steps and it takes time to bring the idea of how we want to play football really consistently, I would say, on the pitch."
He concluded: "And how long in particular is difficult to answer as soon as you see your progress and you can adjust here and there and also the squad, then I think you're gonna see a different picture of our games."
