Tuesday 21 June 2016 08:58, UK
Spain head coach Vicente del Bosque sees no reason to reprimand Pedro after the winger complained about having to sit on the bench at Euro 2016.
The Chelsea forward has played less than 10 minutes in the tournament, his only appearance being as a late substitute in La Roja's opening 1-0 win over the Czech Republic.
In an interview with Movistar, the Chelsea forward said: "I had different expectations when I first came here. It is difficult for me to play this role [as a substitute].
"If there is no continuity it is not worth me turning up just to be part of the group."
But Del Bosque played down any suggestions of an unsettled camp as he prepared for their final Group D match against Croatia in Bordeaux on Tuesday night with hopes of topping the group.
"What he has said, he did not disrespect anyone. I think his conscience got the better of him a little bit and he just showed a reality of what the 12 players who are not playing all feel," Del Bosque said.
"Pedro was a bit angry he is not playing, that is inevitable and can happen. We try to get on well with everyone and for everybody to be happy and comfortable.
"However, it is inevitable that in certain moments with those 12 players who are not playing there will be a bit of discrepancy, that is what happened and I don't think there is anything more to it than that.
"All the news here has been positive so when something negative comes out it is blown out proportion a bit, but I don't think it will have a lot of repercussions.
"I don't think we should be too hard on him, and in the 50-plus games he has been here with us, he has been a very correct player."
Pedro, who joined the Blues from Barcelona last summer, is one of the most experienced players in the Spain squad, having won 58 caps and scored 17 goals since making his debut in May 2010.
But he even hinted he could retire from international football after playing just eight minutes in one substitute appearance, saying: "I thought in this European Championship I could play more because I arrived in very good form.
"It is also difficult to continue being here because it is difficult to assume this role for me. If you don't play it isn't worth it coming just to make up the numbers, to be with your team-mates, even though I am very comfortable here."
The 28-year-old, who was part of the Spain squads that won the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, later insisted he had not intended to criticise his coach, but he refused to retract his comments.
"I am not sorry exactly. If you asked me about my future in the national team, I would say the same [again]," he told reporters.
"I have spoken to Vicente, I have spoken to the players and they understand what I was saying, so I do not really understand while this has happened.
"I am very grateful to be here and be part of this team. I have been here for six years, I am not attacking the manager or other things that have been said.
"I assume the responsibility of what I have said. If I have to say sorry to someone because I haven't liked it, I will say it. Now the most important thing is to be calm.
"If I have annoyed anyone or made anyone disappointed, I am sorry, but I don't think it was such a big deal.
"I always want to be involved on the pitch, so I am going to keep working hard to try to play and be in the best possible shape to help the team."
Focus will again be on crowd behaviour inside Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux after the Croatian Football Federation was fined £77,000 for incidents during the 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic in Saint-Etienne on Friday.
Del Bosque, though, feels none of that should distract from the efforts of the players on the pitch.
"That is nothing to do with football. There are people taking advantage to create a huge fuss, but this is nothing to do with the game," the Spain boss said.
"Croatia are one of the best teams I have seen in this competition. It is going to be an open game, we will both go for the win - you can't think about anything else."
