Matthias Jaissle began his tenure as Newcastle United head coach with a 2-1 victory over Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium, securing the Orange Trophy in his first pre-season friendly. Despite the silverware, the former Al-Ahli manager remained grounded, stating, “We will not smash the locker room now and celebrate a lot. We still have a lot to work on.”
The match began poorly for the visitors, who fell behind within four minutes after Filip Ugrinic scored a curling opener. The contest grew increasingly feisty, marked by a significant injury concern when Anthony Elanga was stretchered off following a dangerous tackle by Jose Gaya. The challenge resulted in a red card for the Valencia defender. Jaissle admitted he was “in fear” during the incident, though later reports indicated Elanga suffered only a bruised shin and was walking shortly after the match.
Newcastle displayed resilience following the setback, with substitute Yoane Wissa netting two goals to turn the game around. The performance also highlighted the contributions of new signings Bazoumana Toure and Sean Steur, who joined from Hoffenheim and Ajax respectively and impressed after coming off the bench. Their impact provided a positive outlook for Jaissle as he integrates his squad.
Reflecting on the result, Jaissle emphasized the psychological benefits of the win, noting, “Winning games always helps to gain confidence.” He acknowledged the intensity of the team’s recent training schedule, adding, “We also knew that we had a hard week behind us. 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.”
