Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho declined to attend Friday's regular pre-match news conference and his assistant, Aitor Karanka, took questions instead ahead of Saturday's opening Clasico of the campaign at home to Barcelona.
Mourinho has had a testy relationship with the Madrid-based media since joining from Inter Milan at the end of the 2009/10 season and declined to speak before a La Liga game against Barca in April, prompting a walkout by around 30 local journalists.
Karanka noted he had given more than 30 news conferences since becoming Mourinho's assistant and refused to offer any explanation for the Portuguese's absence.
He told the packed press room at Real's Valdebebas training ground the club were treating Saturday's game like any other and there was no need to make any tactical changes given their recent impressive run of form.
"We tackle all our matches in the same way," the former Real player said, adding that their planned 4-3-3 formation would include Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel di Maria on the wings and either Karim Benzema or Gonzalo Higuain at centre-forward.
"Tomorrow's is just one more game," Karanka said. "Of course it's against a direct rival but that doesn't mean we have to change anything."
Captain Roberto Soldado said the club's goal now must be to steal second spot from Barca.
"We are playing very well in La Liga and that is where we have to find our motivation now," the striker told a news conference on Thursday.
