Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle has admitted it is 'nice to hear' praise from Yoane Wissa and Anthony Elanga for the work he has done with the pair during his first month at the club. However, the former RB Salzburg and Al-Ahli head coach insists that praise should go to the duo and the rest of his Magpies players for the way they have started the season.
Unbeaten start under Jaissle
Jaissle has been Magpies boss for a month now and after a tumultuous end to pre-season, his side have made an unbeaten start to the campaign, winning two and drawing one of their three games in all competitions. Wissa and Elanga have been central to that, with Wissa being nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month award for August for his displays and Elanga scoring in both of the Magpies' two league matches so far.
It is a far cry from last season where the pair struggled to live up to their £55million price tags and failed to make a meaningful impact on the campaign. The pair both enjoyed fantastic World Cups for their countries and carried that into pre-season, too. Newcastle have benefitted from their rejuvenation so far this season and Jaissle is hopeful it will continue long into the season.
Jaissle: 'It's a player's game'
"First of all, we are really pleased that they can shine at the beginning of the season already and we hope they can continue like that," Jaissle explained. "Always in football, there are periods when for players, things are not working out that well. Thank God, they are working out quite well at the moment, they are working hard to get these rewards and we support them. This is, for now, the key and it is on them, how much they believe in themselves, how much effort they put on the pitch and we will encourage and support them."
Wissa was effusive in his praise for Jaissle after last weekend's win at Tottenham, calling his boss the club's 'best signing' of the summer. But the Newcastle boss insists it is a 'player's game' and he feels from the moment he took his first training session in La Manga that the players were ready to embrace his ideas. "It's nice to hear, definitely," Jaissle replied. "But the lads were doing an amazing job so far. It's a player's game, like I mentioned often already. These guys are so committed, and I felt that from day one, actually, in the training in La Manga. So energised, so open, willing to learn new things, adjusting quickly, improving quickly. And it's just nice to see them running around, fighting for everything. And hopefully we can continue on Saturday like this."
Clear principles and wing partnerships
Similarly, Elanga felt he 'clicked' with his new manager from day one and he feels the non-negotiables and the 'clear principles' he has instilled into his Newcastle team bring the best out of the former Nottingham Forest winger. "We try to support them, we try to encourage them, we work with clear principles, how we want to set the match plan, how we want to set the tone in the leadership way," Jaissle added. "Some non-negotiables as well so the lads know exactly in which direction they need to go. We have clear frameworks within them but they can be free on the pitch as well. So I like to have creative players, I like to have interactions with the players all within clear principles and for Anthony at the moment it works really well. It fits with our way of how we want to play football and hopefully he can shine also in the next weeks and months."
And when asked how pleased he was with the relationship Elanga has already developed with Amar Dedic on the right-wing, Jaissle sought to throw equal praise on the relationship between Harvey Barnes and Lewis Hall on the other wing. "Yes, but I am also pleased on the left side with the link of Harvey and Hally at the moment. But also when you see the substitutions. If Murph comes in or Bazou, straight away you see the link is great with the full-backs. Tino hopefully comes soon back so there are many things we can look forward to but all with the realistic point of view."
