Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti said he had no knowledge of claims that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez used a media company to attempt to pressure him into picking players including Gareth Bale more often during his time at the Bernabeu.
Eldiario.es claimed to have copies of text messages sent around 2014 between Perez and the owner of now-defunct website diariobernabeu.com which showed Perez approving articles calling on Ancelotti to pick Bale.
Perez has said Madrid worked with diariobernabeu.com founder Alejandro de Pedro in other ways, including on social media projects, and answered questions about their relationship in court in 2015 when de Pedro was embroiled in the "Operacion Punica" corruption scandal.
But speaking at a news conference on Friday, Ancelotti said: "It's news to me -- I don't know anything about that.
"There are always rumours. I don't know if the president used the media to put the pressure on me."
He added that he had enjoyed "a fantastic time" at the club and "never had direct pressure from the president."
He added: "I think that in all that time there was no possibility to put pressure on me about the lineup.
"I am the person that knows the players the best."
Asked about allegations that Perez had paid a journalist €300,000 for digital work, Ancelotti said: "He's an expensive journalist."
Meanwhile, defender Jerome Boateng will make first start of the year against Augsburg on Saturday.
With record signing Javi Martinez suspended, Boateng will come into the side for his first league start since the 1-0 defeat at Dortmund in November.
Backup goalkeeper Sven Ulreich is set for his first Bundesliga start for Bayern as Manuel Neuer misses the next two games with a toe injury.
Ancelotti said Ulreich was fit after injuring a hand in training on Thursday and "can play without any problems," adding: "He hasn't played a lot, but we have complete faith in him."
Asked whether Neuer was a doubt for the Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Real Madrid on April 12, Ancelotti said: "We hope to have him back for Borussia Dortmund [on April 8]. But he will be available for Real Madrid."
Brazil winger Douglas Costa misses the Augsburg game with a knee injury. "He is training individually, but will return to team training next week," Ancelotti said. "We are confident that he'll be available for the Real Madrid game."
Ancelotti said there was "no chance" of Germany international Joshua Kimmich leaving the club, while Bayern are set to take up the option to sign Kingsley Coman permanently from Juventus in April.
"Coman is important for us and in the future," the coach added. "Our idea is for him to stay at the club next season."
ESPN FC's Spain correspondent Dermot Corrigan contributed to this report.