Real Madrid left-back Marcelo says that he and all players at the club must understand and accept coach Zinedine Zidane's rotation policy.
Zidane has already used 21 of his 22 outfield players during the club's first four games of the 2016-17 season, as superstar players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale missed part of preseason post-Euro 2016, and youngsters and backups, including Marco Asensio, Alvaro Morata and Mateo Kovacic have played prominent roles.
Former Galactico superstar Zidane has said on many occasions that the team is more important than any one individual.
The Brazil defender, rested for Saturday's 5-2 La Liga win over Osasuna on his return from international duty, told a news conference that while players might be disappointed not to be involved, they had to accept the decisions for the good of the team.
"The boss knows much better than me, he has much more experience than me," Marcelo said. "If he rotates, it is for the good of the team. Whoever comes in must give their most.
"A player wants to play every game, that's normal, but you must understand. The boss and his staff are there to make these decisions. When you rest, it is for the good of the team."
��⚽✅ #RMUCL
This is our 19-man squad for tomorrow's Champions League match against @SportingCP_en.#HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/BGLrawkFNA
- Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) September 13, 2016
Zidane's policy has not affected results as Madrid won the European Super Cup against Sevilla, and have already opened up a gap at the top of the La Liga table after starting the season with three straight wins.
Marcelo said there was a very positive atmosphere among the squad at present.
"The difference with other years I cannot say exactly, but since the start of preseason, the atmosphere has been good," he said.
"We want to keep up this form. We cannot think that everything is perfect, there are still things to improve every day, every training, every game. But this start of the season is very happy."
Next up for Madrid is Wednesday's Champions League Group F opener at home to Sporting Lisbon, and Marcelo said he had spoken to teammate Ronaldo for some tips about the superstar's boyhood side.
Listos para mañana #M12 pic.twitter.com/nfjgLr16hp
- Marcelotwelve (@MarceloM12) September 13, 2016
"Sporting are a big team -- I have spoken too with Cristiano about the club," he said. "They have had a good start to the season. Of course we want to win, but we must respect them, they are a great team.
"They are coming to the Bernabeu to try and win the game."
Champions League holders Madrid are aiming to become the first team to win the competition two years in a row, since it was expanded from the former European Cup in 1992.
"No team has won it twice in a row, it is more difficult to confirm what you have already done," Marcelo said.
"We're right at the start, but we know what we want, what our objectives are. It is more difficult than last season.
"To win the Champions League is nothing easy, but we're on the right path. We know our objectives and we'll go for them.
"We train every day strongly, every game giving our most to arrive at the end of the season happy."