Matthias Jaissle insisted he would not get carried away by Newcastle United's first win on his managerial debut in Spain last night - and he meant it. The German head coach kept his cool on a stifling night at the Mestalla stadium, even as his players celebrated a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Valencia in a pre-season friendly.
Low-Key Celebrations
Before his post-game press conference in the bowels of the 103-year-old stadium, Jaissle shook hands with Valencia boss Carlos Corberan, then congratulated goalscorer Yoane Wissa, Joelinton, and some of the young players for their fightback performance against the La Liga side.
However, Jaissle declined to be pushed toward the fans by his players, choosing to applaud alongside them rather than accept any additional gesture. This contrasted with former boss Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall, who had enjoyed being urged into the direction of supporters during certain victories.
Balanced Approach
Jaissle comes across as a head coach who wants to keep things balanced, refusing to get carried away with highs or lows - similar to Howe, who always tried to stay level-headed regardless of results. In his press conference, Jaissle said: "We will not smash the locker room down and celebrate a lot. We are quite balanced, we know what it is about, it's pre-season, we still have a lot to do."
There was a hint of another old Newcastle and Valencia boss, Rafa Benitez, who after a 6-0 win at Queens Park Rangers in 2016 insisted there was plenty to 'improve' and that his team would be back at the training ground immediately.
Looking Ahead
Jaissle rewarded his players with two days off after a punishing week in La Manga that included double sessions. He said: "The players did well and there was a huge commitment to see in each session, so they really deserve two days off and then we start again."
With just two weeks until the Premier League opener against Liverpool at St James' Park, the German knows there is no time to waste.
