Matthias Jaissle has no interest in passing judgement on Manchester City. Asked about the biggest story in English football, Newcastle’s head coach opted for a polite refusal and a swift change of subject.
Jaissle’s first press conference in three weeks was always going to include a question about City, giving nothing away.
A verdict that shook the Premier League
The Premier League shocked the footballing universe on 29 September. They announced that City had been found guilty of 114 of 115 allegations against them. A story first broken by The Athletic on 25 September.
Imagine nine long years of rule-breaking. That’s what Chief Executive Richard Masters has claimed, accusing City of breaching Premier League regulations at least 114 times. City were not having it. They insisted the commission’s finding was rife with “clear material errors of law, principle and fact”. They lodged an appeal on 1 October.
So what’s next?
Under the league’s new rules, the appeal board must hear City’s case within 12 weeks of the 1 October filing, which means by late December at the latest. It then has 30 days after the hearing ends to deliver its ruling. A separate hearing will decide sanctions, so the saga is far from over.
Jaissle’s straight bat
Jaissle gave a straightforward response. He stated that he wasn’t in a position to pass judgement on another team. That the officials were on this one. That the right systems had been put in place, which Newcastle complied with.
He steered the conversation to Monday’s trip to Coventry City, where he wants his players to focus only on what they can influence.
Why Newcastle are watching
Newcastle have their own history with the financial regulations. The Premier League’s associated-party transaction rules arrived after the Saudi-backed takeover in October 2021, which took place five years ago this week.
There have been many ups and downs this summer on Tyneside. Eddie Howe parted ways with the club at the end of July, and Jaissle has come on board in early August with a squad that has lost Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, and Anthony Gordon. Newcastle finished last season in 12th place, so the new coach has a tough job ahead.
Focus turns to Coventry
On the pitch, it started with the Magpies suffering their first defeat under Jaissle in mid-September as a 4-1 loss at Leeds, and the injury list looks set to grow. Anthony Elanga, William Osula, Dan Burn and Jacob Ramsey are all struggling with various problems. Coventry Live reported that young goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen is expected to have surgery.
So in the run-up to their clash, the City verdict can wait.Jaissle’s immediate task is Monday’s trip to Coventry, and he believes his players are thinking more about the three points than about the biggest case in Premier League history.
