Fabio Capello insists he is not nursing a sense of grievance that Chelsea duo John Terry and Frank Lampard have both pulled out of England's crucial Euro 2012 opener against Bulgaria on Friday.
After his turbulent experience at the World Cup, England need to make a solid start to their qualification campaign in order to relieve the pressure on Capello, who is under scrutiny like never before.
Yet the Three Lions must face their immediate future without two of their most senior players.
In both instances, the players featured for their clubs on Saturday, Lampard missing a penalty and Terry completing the full 90 minutes of a home victory against Stoke.
But within hours, Chelsea were confirming the pair would miss England's first competitive international, Lampard to have a groin operation and Terry because of a hamstring injury and various other aches and pains.
As both men are expected to feature for their clubs when the domestic programme resumes later this month, it hardly suggests a huge level of commitment.
However, Capello insists in both instances, the course of action that has been taken makes perfect sense.
"We know Frank Lampard needs an operation to be ready for his club and the next game with us," outlined Capello.
"John Terry has been playing with an injection because all the other Chelsea defenders were injured.
"He told us he had to stay at home because he cannot play all the games.
"At half-time in the game against Hungary he said he couldn't carry on.
"He was with us then. Now he needs to relax in order to be fit for the next games."