Abdulhafiz TeslimNewcastle United supporters were left surprised during Saturday’s pre-season clash with Bayer Leverkusen after Matthias Jaissle made an unusual request that resulted in his players changing their shirts just 24 minutes into the game.
The Magpies were hosting the Bundesliga side at St James’ Park in the Vist Malta Cup, with the match forming an important part of Newcastle’s preparations for the new Premier League campaign. However, attention quickly turned away from the action on the pitch when Newcastle’s players were called towards the dugout for an unexpected change of kit.
There had already been some concern about the colours before kick-off. Leverkusen had arrived wearing a light-blue shirt, while Newcastle were in their new home strip, which features a sizeable white panel on the back.
Although referee Michael Oliver had approved both kits before the match began, the potential clash became increasingly noticeable once the game got underway.
Those watching from the press box had also spotted the issue, and it appears Jaissle and his coaching staff were quick to recognise that the players could benefit from wearing a different colour.
The German head coach eventually made his feelings clear during a hydration break.
Jaissle turned towards the Newcastle kit staff and pulled at his own shirt, seemingly indicating that he wanted his players to change into a different strip.
The request was acted upon.
Newcastle’s players removed their home shirts after only 24 minutes and switched into the club’s new third kit for the remainder of the first half. It was an unusual sight at St James’ Park, particularly during a match that was supposed to be one of the final stages of Newcastle’s preparations for the new season.
While the incident was unusual, it demonstrated the importance Jaissle appears to place on small details.
The 38-year-old is still in the early stages of his Newcastle tenure and is attempting to establish his own methods and standards after taking charge of the club. His approach has already centred heavily on intensity and attention to detail, with the German coach determined to develop a team capable of maintaining a high-energy style of football.
The kit change also created an amusing comparison with one of the Premier League’s most famous kit incidents.
Manchester United experienced a similar situation in 1996 when Sir Alex Ferguson complained about his team’s grey away strip during a match against Southampton at the old Dell.
Ferguson believed the grey shirts were difficult for his players to distinguish against the background of the home supporters. United subsequently changed into a different kit at half-time during a match they eventually lost 3-1.
Newcastle’s situation was nowhere near as dramatic, but the decision to make the switch so early in the game certainly caught the attention of supporters.
For Jaissle, however, the priority was simple: if the colours were creating even a minor problem, there was little reason to allow it to continue.
The decision meant Newcastle finished the first half in a completely different strip from the one they had started with, producing one of the more bizarre moments of the club’s pre-season campaign.
With the Premier League season approaching, Jaissle will be hoping the focus can now return entirely to football as he continues to shape his Newcastle side.
The Leverkusen friendly represents another valuable opportunity for the new manager to assess his squad, improve match sharpness and work on the intensity he wants to see from his players.
And while a mid-game kit change was certainly not part of the original plan, Jaissle’s intervention ensured that a potential distraction was dealt with quickly.
For Newcastle supporters, it was an unexpected reminder that under their new head coach, even the smallest details are unlikely to escape attention.
Abdulhafiz Teslim
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