Interview with Jaissle: “I’ve given up making any career plans”
Matthias Jaissle got the double straight away this season with Red Bull Salzburg. In an interview with kicker, the 34-year-old talks about his personal future, “mentor” Ralf Rangnick and criticism of his employer.
kicker: Mr. Jaissle, you got the double with Salzburg and reached the round of 16 in the Champions League. How do you rate your first season?
Matthias Jaissle: The season was obviously very successful for us. Only a few would have expected us to do that in this form. The summary is therefore very positive. It also makes me a little proud that we have grown so much as a club and have developed so well.
Salzburg has won 17 of the last 18 titles at national level. How difficult or how easy is it to dominate with the financially strongest club in Austria?
We know, of course, that over the past few years we have made it our goal to always be the favorite in Austria. Nonetheless, our successes are anything but a matter of course. When you see what everyone invests in their job here and with what passion and meticulousness all club employees work, it is still something special. For us, titles in Austria are not a sure-fire success. There is damn hard work and a lot of commitment behind it.
What does Salzburg do better than the other teams in Austria?
Others have to judge that. I don’t like making comparisons, especially in public. But I can say that Sturm Graz, for example, did very well this season and was consistently at a high level. However, we have the focus completely on us. We played a very dominant and successful season. That was not to be expected in this consistency for us. We had a big upheaval in the summer and therefore had to contest the season with one of the youngest teams in the club’s history. We originally expected major performance fluctuations and dips. Luckily, these didn’t happen.
In the Champions League it ended against Bayern Munich. What is Salzburg missing to be able to keep up with the best teams in the world?
We should keep our humility and modesty. We have been doing well with this for many years. We’re not doing ourselves any favors if we compare ourselves to the great FC Bayern. Reaching the round of 16 of the Champions League this year was anything but a matter of course. It took us a long time to even qualify for the Champions League. We’ve done that a few times in a row now. Nevertheless, we do well to classify things correctly.
I am convinced that we will have a top team on the pitch again next season.
Matthias Jaißle on the upheaval in the summer
As after every season, a few departures are to be expected again this year. How is it supposed to succeed in providing a powerful squad in the coming season?
It’s true that success breeds desire. We are aware of food. It was the same when I took office in the summer. However, this path will also be consistently pursued in the future. That’s just the philosophy of Red Bull Salzburg. It’s no surprise that one or the other player will leave us in the summer. I’m still convinced that we’ll have a top team on the field again next season. Stephan Reiter (commercial director, note) and Christoph Freund (sports director, note) have done an excellent job in the past and will do it again this time.
You were also present at the Salzburg Youth League final against Benfica Lisbon. Which players did you see there who can help your team in the coming season?
One or the other player will definitely get a chance. But we can’t announce anything yet, because the final squad planning for the coming season hasn’t been completed yet. Then we’ll do it calmly. But it is clear that there are also some interesting players in our cooperation club Liefering.
How valuable is the cooperation with Liefering for Salzburg?
For us, this is of course a good constellation. The consistent approach and the stringent philosophy pay off. Because of my past (Jaissle worked as a Liefering trainer in the first half of 2021, note) I always keep an eye on it.
You yourself said in April that staying in Salzburg looked good. Is that still the case?
You have to ask this question, don’t you? (laughs) It’s the same constellation as back then: I don’t concern myself with it. I have an ongoing contract here and feel very comfortable in Salzburg. As a result, I don’t think about this at all.
Nevertheless: Are there any offers from abroad?
I’m really not dealing with that at the moment. Maybe you don’t believe me, but we still have other goals this season. I’m thinking, for example, of a new points record for the champion. So thoughts about my future don’t matter at all.
Her playing career ended at the age of 25 due to numerous findings. To what extent does your experience as a player help you in your coaching work?
I benefit from this in many ways. I’ve given up making any career plans. They were thrown overboard back then and that’s why I don’t do that anymore as a coach. I always aim to make the best of the current situation. I was also able to take a lot with me for dealing with the players. It’s about insights, setbacks and gratitude for the job. Being a professional footballer is not something that can be taken for granted, it is a privilege. I regularly make my players aware of this.
You started your professional career at Hoffenheim under Ralf Rangnick. What could you learn from him?
Very much. It was there that I first came into contact with the kind of football that we now play in Salzburg. I was also impressed by his clarity and attention to detail. It was very inspiring to have a coach at the age of 18 who knows exactly what kind of football he wants to watch. There were no question marks in the minds of the players. The plan was always clear. Accordingly, he shaped me as a player and coach, since he also brought me to Leipzig.
There is a lot of sympathy for us and our kind of football.
Jaissle on criticism of Red Bull
Rangnick is now the team boss of the Austrian national team. What do you think of the ÖFB’s decision?
I think this is a very good solution. I can only congratulate the association and wish both Ralf Rangnick and the national team all the best for the upcoming tasks.
In the course of this decision, Klagenfurt coach Peter Pacult also criticized the term “RB style”. What do you associate with this term?
That’s the kind of football that WILL be played here in Salzburg. We want to be bold, bold and aggressive. The whole thing should of course also be connected with high pressing, so that the opponent creates a lot of stress. After winning the ball, we want to get in front of the goal with determination. The virtues we embody here are certainly typical of that. However, it is not the same everywhere. The DNA and the basis are there, but the handwriting and ideas of the coaches are different. You can see that quite well from our season.
Nevertheless, Salzburg still sees itself with resentment from “football romantics” due to the large starting advantage. To what extent can YOU understand that?
I see it very differently. There is a lot of sympathy for us and our kind of football. You saw that in the Champions League too. We got great feedback from all over Europe. So I can’t really comment on that. I do not share this view and have only had good experiences so far.