FROM THE EDITOR

Bayern Munich’s sacking of Carlo Ancelotti ( page 13) took many by surprise, though it was the style of his team’s performances rather than the substance of their results that ultimately cost him his job after 15 months.

Ironically, Ancelotti has a reputation as a coach who is comfortable managing the egos of highly paid modernday superstars. Yet elsewhere in Europe, player power seems on the wane. Arsenal and Liverpool were able to resist the transfer desires of Alexis Sanchez and Philippe Coutinho respectively, while Borussia Dortmund ( page 46) were prepared to sideline Ousmane Dembele until an irresistible, overthe-odds offer from Barcelona.

At the continent’s top clubs things are different. At PSG, Neymar’s recent penalty tussle with Edinson Cavani ( page 20) is a sideshow that could yet undermine the dynamics of a team with serious Champions League ambitions. Similarly at Barcelona ( page 26), Lionel Messi’s unsigned contract is the great unknown factor.

We have focused on club issues this month because deadlines prevented us from covering the latest World Cup games. Next month, we will have a much clearer idea of the qualifiers and play-off contenders.

See you then.

Ancelotti has a reputation as a coach who is comfortable managing the egos of highly paid modernday superstars