Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle is facing heavy criticism after defeats to Coventry City and Aston Villa, but he has been in this situation before. During his time as manager of Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli, Jaissle came close to being sacked in his second season as rumours grew that Massimiliano Allegri would take over.
Jaissle recovered to keep his job and go on to win back-to-back Asian Champions Leagues, an experience that offers a case study as pressure mounts at Newcastle.
Pressure Mounts at Newcastle
Jaissle inherited the Newcastle squad less than three weeks before the start of the season during a turbulent summer that saw four senior players leave and eight new signings, all aged 24 or under, arrive. After a decent start yielded eight points from five matches, the last two games – a 4-1 defeat at Coventry and a 1-0 home loss to Aston Villa – rang alarm bells.
Supporters have voiced concerns about how easily the team is played through, a lack of control in midfield, wastefulness in front of goal and excessive concession of chances. Nobody is suggesting Jaissle is close to the sack so soon into the season, but there is an acceptance that a mood swing is needed across the next four matches before the November international break.
Fan Support Key in Avoiding Sack
Jaissle joined Al Ahli in the summer of 2023 and guided the club to AFC Champions League qualification. A mid-season slump in his second year led to talk of his sacking as Allegri rumours grew. But the relationship he had fostered with supporters saw a campaign launched to keep him in post, allowing the 38-year-old to galvanise the club to win the AFC Champions League in the 2024/25 season.
Saudi football expert Mohamed Qoutb, speaking to Chronicle Live on the Everything is Black and White podcast, explained the context. "The club expected more in the second season," Qoutb said. "The fans got excited, but I think something happened at the beginning of the second season. The club started to lay off some players. So Allan Saint-Maximin was sent to Turkey. The fans didn't like this."
Qoutb added that Ivan Toney came in because Roberto Firmino was not convincing as a striker, but there was dissatisfaction because other clubs were reinforcing their teams while Al Ahli did not on the same scale. The low point came when Al Ahli were knocked out of the King's Cup by a second-division team, the closest Jaissle came to being sacked.
Turning Point and Big Performances
The club's hierarchy began looking for replacements, with Allegri widely linked as a potential appointment for the following season. But fans rallied behind Jaissle, driven by strong performances in big games against Al Ittihad, Al Hilal and Al Nassr. Qoutb noted that fans even started a campaign to sack the sporting director and CEO.
The club remained in the Champions League and signed winger Galeno from FC Porto mid-season, with the final phase held in Jeddah, their home city. Jaissle de-registered Firmino from the Saudi League squad to dedicate him to the Asian Champions League. Al Ahli beat Al Hilal in the semi-final and won the competition, a massive achievement for a club whose rivals had previously won it.
"So this gave him the authority to do whatever he wants with Al Ahli. He's treated like a king in Al Ahli and it's amazing how his fortunes have shifted massively from a guy who was on the edge of being sacked to a man who was treated like royalty in town in less than three or four months," Qoutb said.
Qoutb suggested that a big win in the Sunderland derby could change much for Jaissle, given Newcastle fans struggled last season to see Sunderland win home and away after coming from the Championship.
Leadership and Squad Size
It was put to Chronicle Live this week that Jaissle had missed the leadership of captain Dan Burn and vice-captain Joelinton on the pitch. Qoutb felt he achieved that at Al Ahli through a core group including Merih Demiral, Roger Ibanez, Franck Kessie and Toney. Jaissle preferred a small squad and rarely deviated from his strongest XI once established.
"One thing we noticed with Jaissle in Al-Ahli was once he believed in a starting XI, the changes were really limited," Qoutb said. "He had a starting XI he believed in and then he was introducing two or three names [from the bench] and that is it. If that doesn't work, he will look for external solutions."
This might suggest Newcastle need more reinforcements and that some players might need to go on loan to prove a point elsewhere, as Jaissle wants players he thinks will deliver.
Consistency and Sustainability Concerns
Two criticisms levelled at Jaissle at Newcastle are that his team lack consistency and that their style is not sustainable. Qoutb used those same words to describe his time in Saudi. "I think he's still highly regarded in Saudi Arabia and looked at as one of the best managers Al Ahli have ever had," he explained.
"I think it's struggling to find consistency through the season. His way of play is a bit demanding. We need full-court press most of the time. We need to be high up, high positions, watch out for transitions. And this might not be a sustainable approach if you want to win the league." Qoutb noted that galvanising the team for big occasions is his strength, as seen in the opening season fixture against Liverpool, which he called Newcastle's best performance so far.
