Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane faced up to questioning ahead of his side's LaLiga away clash against Valencia, with the post-match weekend comments of Isco getting some air -time.
The former Malaga midfielder shared that while he would like to stay at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, it may not be the best thing for his career if he can't get the first-team minutes he craves.
"What [Isco] says is understandable, there isn't a problem," the Frenchman explained to reporters.
"A footballer can play 20 or 26 games and when he is taken away from that he isn't going to like it, it is always going to happen. But having games every three days interests me as everyone is switched on and we are together until the very end.
"He knows that I can count on him, and I like him as a player. I have 24 very good players. When you change a player, it isn't because you like another more. I believe in my squad, in the 24. I wanted to play [Marco] Asensio the other day and I had to take out Nacho."
After recognising the problems that his congested fixture list will pose, Zidane wasn't willing to be open with his rotation policy - nor what could happen if players don't get game time before the summer.
"I don't make my rotations to keep players happy, but rather because I believe that it is for the best, because everyone can make a different and I intent to transmit this idea to them," added the Frenchman.
"I am not able to talk about what will happen in June and the players aren't thinking of their futures now, but rather what they can do now.
"We will see later what will happen in the summer, but now the truth is that it isn't the most important thing.
"[Pepe] is an important player and what interests me most with him at the moment is that when he plays, he finishes the game. His contract isn't my concern right now.
"I am going to count on him until the very end. We will have games that he will play in and others that he won't, this isn't going to change. We have eight very good defenders and one will always have to miss out."
Cristiano Ronaldo was also on the agenda, after his better performances out on the wing of late, but Zidane wasn't willing to shed light on Gareth Bale's situation.
"[Ronaldo] has played for all of his life there, it is his position", he noted. "And I have made it clear that it is his position.
"He is a phenomenon and he can play elsewhere, but the left wing is his natural position and it is where he has scored 400 goals. He was rested in the Copa del Rey, and will rest another game. Tomorrow he is going to play.
"Tomorrow, we will see if [Bale] plays. He is content and strong so we will see."
