Rafa explained the decision to leave Cisse out of the squad was simply to rest him.
Rafa said, "We have a big squad and a lot of games - you need to use the players that you have. Always I say the same - when a player is playing, then other players cannot play."
He added, "Why was he not playing? Because Crouch and Morientes were playing. There is no problem, no reason, only a big squad and a lot of games."