
The English Premier League had previously mooted the idea of top-flight sides playing an extra match a season on foreign soil from 2013. But EPL chief executive Richard Scudamore told CNN this is unlikely to take place now. "The core part of our show is that attending fan. Until you can get them comfortable with the idea I don't think it's really going to happen."

Pre-season tours abroad have become an increasingly popular among EPL teams. Manchester United faced Real Madrid in front of 109,318 fans at Michigan Stadium in 2014 -- the largest crowd to see a football game in the U.S., breaking the mark of 101,799 set at the Rose Bowl for the 1984 Olympic final.

Reigning champions Chelsea are struggling this season -- winning only three of their 12 league matches.

But Scudamore believes Blues manager Jose Mourinho can "finish the season a lot stronger because they are a very big club with hugely talented players and a very talented coach."

The EPL has become increasingly popular across the world -- television rights under Scudamore have risen from £1.2 billion for the 2001-04 season to $4.5 billion for the 2013-16 seasons.