Michael Ballack told reporters he hasn't been told why he was left out of Chelsea's starting line-up for Sunday's League Cup final at Wembley.
The Germany midfielder came on from the bench two minutes from the end of normal time, but could not prevent Chelsea from falling to a 2-1 defeat against Tottenham.
"I am not happy that I did not play but I have to accept it like everybody else who did not start," Ballack said.
"It was not explained, it was on the team-sheet shortly before the game and that was it."
Everton to take Pienaar option
Borussia Dortmund said that Everton have opened talks about making Steven Pienaar's loan move to the club a permanent one.
The 25-year-old signed for Everton on a season-long deal from Borussia and has impressed during his stay on Merseyside. Manager David Moyes is now looking to finalise a deal.
"Steven Pienaar wants to stay at Everton," Borussia chief Michael Zorc said. "There are clear signals that the club will take up their option to buy him."
Davids to retire from game
Edgar Davids, 34, is likely to retire from football at the end of this season. The Ajax captain, who made his professional debut for Ajax in 1991, played for Milan, Juventus, Barcelona, Inter and Tottenham before returning to Amsterdam last year.
"It might be that this is my last season," Davids said.
Asked if he would be tempted to continue under new coach Marco van Basten in the next campaign, Davids said: "I don't think so. Everything has to come to an end."
Lua Lua wants Newcastle return
Tresor Lomana Lua Lua is keen to return to Newcastle as he feels he has 'unfinished business'. The Congo striker spent almost four years at St James' Park after being brought to the club by Bobby Robson in 2000.
He joined Portsmouth in 2004 before quitting the Premier League last summer to link up with Olympiakos, of Greece.
"I would love to go back to Newcastle," Lua Lua said.
"I feel I have unfinished business there. Kevin Keegan loves to play attacking football and would get the best out of me."
Family first for Carson
Scott Carson, currently on loan at Aston Villa from Liverpool, wants to sort out his future. The goalkeeper has three years left of his contract with the Reds and is keen to commit himself to one club after previously having loan spells with Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton.
Carson said: "I'd like to know what is happening because I've got my girlfriend and my son to think about.
"I've still got a contract with Liverpool and until someone does a deal with them, I can't do anything. Villa paid a loan fee for me until the end of the season and anytime from now until then, they could make it permanent."
Mutu out for four weeks
Fiorentina were handed a massive blow with the news that Adrian Mutu will be out of action for four weeks. The Romania striker limped off in the first half of Sunday's defeat against Roma with a knee injury after colliding with goalkeeper Alexander Doni.
Mutu's studs seemed to get caught in the turf and he landed awkwardly causing a second-degree rupture to his medial ligament.
The injury will see Mutu miss the crucial UEFA Cup last 16 ties against Everton and the trip to Juventus.
Borriello for national team
Gian Piero Gasperini, the Genoa coach, thinks Marco Borriello is making a strong case for a spot in Italy's Euro 2008 squad.
Borriello, who joined Genoa on loan from Milan last summer, seems at home at the Marassi and is the Serie A leading scorer with 15 goals following Sunday's hat-trick against Udinese.
"We are all hoping that Marco makes it to Euro 2008," Gasperini said.
"There are more than two months left of the season and if he continues like this it would be hard to leave him out."
Ref facing lengthy ban
Referee Paolo Dondarini could face a lengthy suspension after his poor performance in Juve's defeat to Reggina on Saturday. Dondarini was widely criticised for denying Juventus two penalties and awarding Reggina a dubious late spot-kick at the Stadio Granillo.
According to reports, Dondarini will be out of top-flight action for two months and will have to spend time in Serie B.
Berger set to join Slavia
Patrik Berger wants to move back to Slavia Prague this summer. The 34-year-old is currently at Aston Villa but struggling to make the first team under Martin O'Neill.
Berger recently told fellow Czech Vladimir Smicer, who returned to Slavia, that he is playing a major role in luring him back to the club.
Berger and Smicer played together at Slavia before they both went on to find glory at Liverpool.
"Officially I have not discussed it with anyone but Smicer has been persuading me to return and I am already affected by it," Berger said.