Zinedine Zidane has indicated that Luka Modric was on the bench for the game against Espanyol due to his rotation policy.
The Frenchman also stressed that the Croatian is fully fit and needs no rest at the moment.
"We always talk to the players," Zidane told the press conference.
"He can endure a lot because his physique is very good.
"It is true that there are lots of [players] and I have to do these rotations.
"But [I don't need to] rest Luka because he is okay.
"He knows that from time to time we skip a game."
Zidane went on to praise Vinicius Junior's performance, insisting that goals will come if he keeps working.
"The important thing is his work, what he has done, as he has done well, both in attack and defence," he continued.
"He started the game very well. Today he has had to play and he has done quite well, although everyone likes to score.
"The important thing is to score one and then get into some rhythm.
"These are things that come with confidence.
"I do not ask anyone for goals; that is a consequence of what the team does.
"Today it was [Raphael] Varane's turn, for example, and there are already 15 players [in the squad] who have scored."
Fede Valverde produced another great display in the middle third and Zidane made clear that the Uruguayan's long-term future lies at Real Madrid.
"Fede has a place here for many years, because he is demonstrating [his quality]," he added.
"He is an important player. I do not like to talk about individuals.
"He is very young, but when he plays he does well.
"But we are many. I like that all the players are ready and that each one does well when it's his turn."