EDITOR’S LETTER

@Jamesmawfft

“A great attack wins you games, a great defence wins you titles.” That was the mantra of Alex Ferguson, a man who, lets be honest, knows a thing or two about winning major trophies.

It’s a theory that was surely in Jurgen Klopp’s thinking when he dropped a cool £75 million to take this month’s Fourfourtwo cover star to Liverpool last January, and the signs are that it was money very well spent. We suspect most at Anfield would agree.

Virgil van Dijk has brought solidity to the Reds’ previously porous backline, and if they do go the distance and finally win the Premier League this season, his contribution will have been the difference.

We headed to Merseyside to meet the totemic defender, who told us how street football, a mouthy coach, and dicing with death have given him the mental fortitude to take him to the very top – not to mention drag his team along with him.

We’ve also taken a moment – and 10 pages – to celebrate the most iconic centre-backs the game has ever seen (I look forward to your complaints about the inclusion of a certain strong-armed Tranmere hero), spent an afternoon with Manchester United’s next captain, and visited the home of the most bonkers fans in world football. On that note, I’d like to offer a gentle reminder to the good folk of Athens that the views expressed by fans of PAOK are not those of FFT. Seriously. James Maw

Enjoy the issue. Deputy Editor