Training always goes up a level when a new manager arrives, as players look to impress, but the intensity of the German’s double sessions are said to have been “off the charts”.
Such effort is a non-negotiable for Jaissle who, like Howe, wants his players to train the way they play and take that vigour into games.
During his spell at RB Salzburg, where he won back-to-back titles and reached the last 16 of the Champions League, Jaissle’s aggressive side ranked first per game in the Austrian league for high turnovers (9.8) and possession won in the final third (5.6) per match.
Al-Ahli posted similarly fierce numbers under him – making 8.2 high turnovers per game and winning 47.6 duels per match – even as he adapted his approach with a new group to win successive Asian Champions League titles.
Striking a balance, as Jaissle did in Saudi Arabia, will be crucial if he is to succeed in the Premier League after he combined front-footed, vertical football with strong defensive foundations.
No wonder Jaissle has already stressed the importance of clean sheets, and the players were left sapped by the sheer number of recovery runs during a particular session.
Training was pared back on Thursday after Jaissle – stopwatch hanging from his neck – recognised the legs of his squad were “heavy”.
He cuts a calm individual in interviews, but morphs into a rampaging figure on the training pitches, even physically moving his coaches to demonstrate the intensity he is after.
Jaissle has brought three assistants with him in Alexander Hauser, Engin Yanova and Florens Koch, two coach analysts in Maximilian Fischer and Steffen Konrad and a goalkeeping coach, Alexander Bade.
But he made it clear how important it was for those already at the club to also “raise the standards” in his opening address.
Knowing Liverpool have had more time to adapt to life under a new manager, Andoni Iraola, staff have been working right up until the early hours on preparation and analysis.
New Czech Republic goalkeeper Hornicek only arrived less than a week ago, for example, but he has been getting a crash course on the added physicality of set-plays in the Premier League and how to cope with towering opposition players attempting to pile in on him following his £25.7m move from Braga.
Is he ready for the fight?
“For sure,” Hornicek said.
Newcastle’s young side will need such a spirit in the weeks, months and years ahead.
