Certain players on Chelsea are concerned with the scapegoating Jose Mourinho has been engaging in after their tough start.

Oscar and Loic Remy weren't taken to Porto, while John Terry's continued absence has come as a surprise to senior squad members.

Mourinho also dropped Eden Hazard and Nemanja Matic from the starting XI at Porto though both were brought on as subs.

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc believes Jurgen Klopp could become the next Bayern Munich manager, telling Sport Bild ahead of Der Klassiker: "It's factually conceivable."

Klopp has previously said he would be open to accepting the Bayern job and has been strongly touted to replace Pep Guardiola when his three-year deal expires in 2016.

Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke said last month that Klopp would be a "100 percent suitable" replacement for Guardiola.

Klopp reportedly rejected an offer to become manager of Mexico's national team.

Brendan Rodgers believes the English football authorities put clubs in a more difficult position when competing in Europe.

The prospect of the Premier League losing its fourth Champions League qualifying place has increased after its representatives’ dismal start to this season’s competition. 

Clubs in other countries will move matches to better accommodate rest.

“I think they could do more to support the teams in Europe,” Rodgers said. “It happens with the other federations and in other countries. They help. That doesn’t happen in this country. As I said, the physicality of this league and the demand on players is like no other.

“In other countries, some of the big teams can change five, six, seven players and still win the game and field a real strong team for the next game. They have got a domestic competition less too. We have two cup competitions in this country, the others have one. It all adds up to it being difficult for the Premier League teams.

“But it is something that we have to cope with and we respect that challenge. It means you have to monitor your players and get the best out of the ones who are available.”

Louis van Gaal is due to retire in 2017 but he's opened the door about staying on longer at Manchester United.

Van Gaal said it's difficult to step away once you get "the bug."

“Normally I shall leave after next year but what is normal in our football world?” Van Gaal said. “You never know, so I cannot answer that question, but I did promise my wife to go with her to our paradise, so it shall be very hard for me to deny her that promise.

“I was 55 [when I first said I would retire] and then I went to Bayern Munich and next year I am 65. If I say I want to stay a year longer it shall be very hard for my wife.”

Van Gaal calls paradise his holiday home on the Algarve.

Ryan Giggs is widely considered manager in waiting upon Van Gaal's departure.

Lionel Messi does not know if he will return from his current knee injury in time to play for Barcelona in the Clasico at Real Madrid on Nov. 21, his brother Rodrigo has told Spanish radio.

Messi tore a ligament in his left knee early this past weekend.

"[Messi] is an excellent professional and knows what he has to do," Rodrigo Messi said. "Obviously there is pressure in all aspects, but he is just thinking about his recovery. Nothing else. He really does not know [when he will return]. Nobody knows yet. His body will recover in its own time. There is no rush. Obviously he wants to play as quickly as possible, but he will only play when he is ready."

Messi will miss several World Cup qualifiers for Argentina in addition to Barcelona's normal schedule.

Carlo Ancelotti remains on sabbatical after his dismissal from Real Madrid.

Reports have emerged of Liverpool's interest in Ancelotti, but he has told people he has received no word from the club.

Ancelotti is actually more interest in the Manchester United job, though Ryan Giggs is widely considered to be next in line when Louis van Gaal leaves.

Ancelotti is living in Vancouver where his wife is from.

Porto have consistently played the transfer market as well as any club in the world, selling players at a great profit.

James Rodriguez, Hulk, Radamel Falcao and Pepe are some of Porto's most well-known transfers.

Vincent Aboubakar, Yacine Brahimi, Ruben Neves and Giannelli Imbula are four players most likely to command large fees in the near future. 

Aboubakar is Porto's main striker following the departure of Martinez.

Brahimi is a skilled winger that had 164 take-ons in La Liga during the 13-14 season.

Neves is just 18 and could be used at the base of a midfield.

Imbula is a promising box-to-box player.

Gonzalo Higuain's agent claims he remains happy at Napoli despite growing interest from Arsenal and Liverpool.

Higuain was strongly linked to a move this past summer following Napoli's inability to qualify for the Champions League.

And after six games of the new season Higuain's agent and brother, Nicolas, claims he's settled in Naples.

"He's happy with (Maurizio) Sarri," Higuain told Radio Crc.

"Everyone wants to play football, and the important thing is that he's calm, he's realised what Sarri wants and now he just has to remain calm and focused.

"It's been a major change and he's responding well to the demands of the coach. Gonzalo is doing the maximum with Sarri."

Wayne Rooney denies making a transfer request to Manchester United in 2013.

Rooney did admit, however, he discussed a potential exit with Alex Ferguson.

Ferguson had announced in October 2010 that Rooney had expressed a desire to leave the club only for the forward to commit to a new five-year contract later that month, but there were further issues in Ferguson's final season and the United boss told the media in May 2013: "He has asked for a transfer."

Speaking in the forthcoming BBC documentary "Rooney: The Man Behind the Goals," the England international has stressed that he did not formally request a move but said he did tell the manager he was unhappy after finding himself behind Robin van Persie in the pecking order in the 2012-13 season.

Rooney said: "I went in to see him and just said, 'If you are not going to play me then it might be better for me to move on.'

"Then, all of a sudden, it was all over the press that I had put a transfer request in, which I never did. I don't know what happened, why that came out that way."

Neymar's agent encouraged him to use tax havens and also end his career with Real Madrid.

Neymar has reportedly evaded 63 million reals in Brazil taxes (almost $16 million) between 2011 and 2013, when he was still a player with Brazilian club Santos.

"Take your money, send everything to tax havens, legally, of course," Wagner Ribeiro wrote in a letter addressed to Neymar's father, Neymar Sr. "This way you will stop paying taxes in Brazil! Close your businesses, the Institute of Praia Grande, and go enjoy your life on Mediterranean beaches. You and your family.

"But leave Neymar to play a few more years ... and end his career in Europe, preferably at Real Madrid."