Sepp Blatter was released from the hospital on Nov. 12 after dealing with a stress-related issue, but it appears as though his condition was more life-threatening than what many imagined.

That is, according to the currently-suspended FIFA president, himself.

Blatter was hospitalized earlier this month and discharged shortly thereafter, but he has now told Swiss TV channel RTS that he was on the verge of dying.

“I was very close to death,” Blatter said. “I was between the angels singing and the devil with the fire. But it was the angels who sang.

“The pressure on me was enormous. If you are strong mentally, you can resist but at some point the body says ‘no’, and in this case the body has reacted badly.”

Blatter, who is currently serving a 90-day ban from all soccer-related activities, faces a lengthy suspension from FIFA’s Ethics Committee over a payment made by FIFA to currently-suspended UEFA president Michel Platini in 2011.

Here are more news and notes:

LIGA MX PLAYOFFS SET

Let playoff soccer begin in Mexico.

With the Apertura 2015 regular season ending over the weekend, the quarterfinal pairings are now officially set. Pumas UNAM, which finished the season in first, will face eighth-placed Veracruz.

Meanwhile, second-placed Toluca will play seventh-placed Puebla, third-placed Leon will do battle with sixth-placed Club America and fourth-placed Chiapas will face off against fifth-placed Tigres.

The first legs will kick off on Wednesday and Thursday.

REAL MADRID PRESIDENT TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE

Following a board meting, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is set to reveal the fate of Rafa Benitez.

The club announced that the president will hold a press conference at 1:30 p.m. on Monday in order to address Benitez’s standing as head coach.

Real Madrid is now six points behind rival Barcelona, which holds first place on the Liga BBVA table, after Saturday’s disappointing 4-0 El Clasico loss at home.

Following the defeat, Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly issued an ultimatum, saying that either he or Benitez should leave the club.

REPORT: WILLIAN, CHELSEA BEGIN NEW CONTRACT DISCUSSIONS

Chelsea appears keen on keeping one of its best midfielders in London.

According to the Evening Standard, Chelsea is negotiating a deal that will see Willian earn $151,000 (£100,000) per week until 2020.

Because of his performances in both the English Premier League and the UEFA Champions League, the Blues want to extend his current contract that is set to expire in 2018. In spite of Chelsea’s poor stretch of results during the 2015-16 season, the Brazilian international has been one of the club’s best players.

Willian currently has two goals and one assist in the EPL, but he is the team’s leading goal-scorer in all competitions with five tallies.

QUICK KICKS:

Despite a slow start to the club’s EPL season, Swansea City will not sack head coach Garry Monk just yet. (REPORT)

Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique says Lionel Messi is “fully recovered” after returning from injury against Real Madrid on Saturday. (REPORT)

Arsenal head coach Arsene Wenger said Francis Coquelin will be out at least two months, so the club may sign someone during the January transfer window. (REPORT)