Colombia coach Reinaldo Rueda has defended the shock omission of Everton attacker James Rodriguez.
Rueda has insisted the decision to 'sacrifice' James Rodriguez from his Copa America squad was made to protect the 29-year-old after a joint-review of his fitness between Everton and national team medical staff.
Rueda said: "Prior to the Federation's statement I met with James by telephone for the results of the exams and to review the information exchanged by the doctor of the Colombian national team and Everton regarding the present of James.
"That is why the decision was made that we must take care of him.
"We know the importance it has for the national team and our immediate future of the next 10 games that are coming as I explained to James.
"I considered myself and it was the conclusion I reached after evaluating all the situations that have arisen in this semester and this last quarter.
"We should not abuse or precipitate a recovery now with the competition we have and also what our participation in the Copa America means.
"That is why I told James I made the decision to disengage him from selection for him to make his recovery accordingly, with the corresponding terms and prudent times, so he can enjoy a full pre-season with his club and we can have him in the next few squads.
"I preferred to sacrifice him now with all that James means for the national team, for the group and for the country."
Rueda continued: "It is not only the healing of a recurrent injury in the same place, but then the readjustment to the competition, especially according to the report sent by his club and the preparation [needed for] a tournament such as the Copa America.
"We cannot harm ourselves, we cannot harm James and the national team. I consider that the national team requires the James that we all fell in love with.
"I told him we need him but when he is 500 per cent, because we know that 100 per cent is not enough for the selection."
Rueda responded to the statement released by James after it was confirmed he would not be included in the Colombia squad - which expressed his 'enormous pain' at the decision - by acknowledging it was a 'normal' response.
The manager is now set for talks with James after the completion of the Copa America.
Rueda said: "In the communication we had the day before, he expressed his feeling to me and it is normal.
"If I put myself in his shoes, and captains Juan [Cuadrado], David [Ospina], Falcao and the players in solidarity with him, [I would] feel the same.
"His reaction is normal, he is a player and wants to play and be in the national team, and even more so because he has lived glorious moments with the national team .
"It is the pain of a moment that he is going to have to grieve and that's why I told him, 'think about it, reconsider and in a few months we'll talk and see how you feel'.
"When we do not respect the terms, calendar and the physical integrity of our players, what happens happens. We cannot take players to elite competitions without being in their 500 per cent.
"The statement is normal, the pain of a player who feels that the national team is his because he has lived it since he was young."
