Ivory Coast's failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup is keeping Eric Bailly on the sidelines.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said he has limited Bailly's minutes in order to give other players a chance to strut their stuff before the World Cup starts.
There had been speculation that a rift had developed between coach and player, leaving Bailly - who last appeared for the Red Devils on April 7 - "worried" about his future at Old Trafford.
However, Mourinho insisted Thursday he's simply being more compassionate to his World Cup contingent.
"Bailly is fine, no injury," the Portuguese boss told reporters. "He is one of five central defenders and honestly, my work is not about World Cups and preparing players for the World Cup or giving chances to players to do the World Cup, but he's the only central defender whose country is not in the World Cup.
"So, if I have to make a kind of more emotional, effective choice to try to help my players, he's the one I am not going to help until the end of the season."
Marcos Rojo (Argentina), Victor Lindelof (Sweden), and Phil Jones and Chris Smalling (England) will likely share the workload for United's final four matches of the campaign, including the FA Cup final against Chelsea on May 19.
"I try to be a good team manager and that means being cold, but I am not as bad as that and I still have space for a little bit of feelings," Mourinho added. "So, when I look to the other four central defenders fighting for a position in the World Cup, I'm giving less (time) to Eric."
