adminMatthias Jaissle has made his first major decision regarding the Newcastle United captaincy after handing the armband to Malick Thiaw for his first game in charge against Valencia.
The German defender was given the responsibility on his 25th birthday and responded with an impressive performance as Newcastle secured a 2-1 victory over Valencia.
With Bruno Guimaraes having left the club, Jaissle is now faced with the difficult task of deciding who will lead Newcastle into the new era at St James’ Park.
Thiaw appears to have made a strong early impression on his new manager.
Speaking after the Valencia victory, Thiaw admitted that being handed the captaincy was a huge honour and revealed that he would be ready to accept the responsibility if Jaissle decides to make the role permanent.
“It was a big honour for me. It was a pleasure for the coach to give the job for the day,” Thiaw said.
“I don’t know if I will get it full-time, but if he does, then I will try to do my best to be in the role.
“I am in the role to lead but that’s not just as skipper – it’s all of us. I’m very happy with it.”
However, Jaissle has made it clear that he is not rushing into making a final decision.
The Newcastle boss revealed that giving Thiaw the armband against Valencia was partly a birthday gesture, while also indicating that he prefers the idea of having a leadership group rather than relying on one individual to carry the responsibility.
That means Thiaw’s impressive first outing could be enough to keep him firmly in contention when Newcastle face Everton on Wednesday.
Dan Burn and Sven Botman are also understood to be among the players capable of taking on greater leadership responsibilities, leaving Jaissle with several options as he continues to assess his squad.
For Thiaw, however, the departure of Bruno Guimaraes is something Newcastle must now move beyond.
“You lose a really great player and even more, a really great person,” Thiaw said.
“We have to be grateful for what Bruno did for Newcastle as well. It’s sometimes how football works, you have to turn the page.
“We have great players as well. We have a good team still, and we can achieve something.”
The German defender also acknowledged that Newcastle have lost several senior figures alongside former manager Eddie Howe, but insisted the squad must embrace the challenge of starting again.
“All of these players are great players and great leaders. Of course, they will be missed, but we have a great team now,” he added.
“We can create enough, and players have to step up. We all have new roles now, and it’s a good challenge for us. We have a lot of quality and potential.”
Jaissle’s arrival has already brought a new atmosphere to St James’ Park, with Thiaw praising the intensity and structure introduced during the German coach’s first week.
“I knew him – he is a really good name in Germany,” Thiaw explained.
“I didn’t know him personally but he is well known.
“Professionally he has been great and all of the team like him. We are looking forward to him being in charge.
“Every coach has a different idea. There’s a clear structure and clear plan. He knows how he wants to face opponents and we are always facing forwards. Intensity is really high but this is the first week.”
The Valencia victory therefore provided Jaissle with an early glimpse of what his new-look Newcastle side can offer.
And with Everton next on the schedule, the captaincy remains one of the most intriguing decisions hanging over the new manager.
Thiaw’s birthday opportunity may have started as a symbolic gesture, but after his performance in Valencia, Jaissle now has a genuine contender for the leadership role.
Whether he keeps the armband against Everton remains to be seen, but one thing is becoming increasingly clear: Thiaw has put himself firmly in the conversation to become one of the leading figures of the new Newcastle era.
Abdulhafiz Teslim
admin
