We're just over halfway through the new league phase of the Champions League and it has already produced its fair share of intrigue. Who would have thought in September that Sporting CP, Monaco and first-timers Brest would be among the pacesetters and that only Liverpool would boast a perfect record? We welcome all these surprises and more in this new issue – beginning with our first cover star Ollie Watkins, following his trajectory from non-league to the Champions League where he intends to make his mark. Perhaps a more familiar sight is seeing our other cover star, Zlatan Ibrahimović, back at AC Milan. The prolific Swede's desire to succeed still endures as he returns to Italy – this time as a senior advisor for the Rossoneri – as he tells us all about how he plans to face this new frontier.
Dropping in on another legend getting to grips with a fresh role, Vincent Kompany shares insights on his leadership philosophy having taken charge as coach at Bayern München. All this plus a tribute to Shakhtar Donetsk’s strength in adversity, a look at the jewellery players are coveting, a fashion and football festival celebrating creativity, a whistle-stop tour of Zagreb and a walk around Paris Saint-Germain’s new campus with teenage sensation Warren Zaïre-Emery.
