"I'm surprised everyone slaughters Pepe one minute and supports him the next"

The first question Aitor Karanka was asked in the post-match press conference after the game against Málaga was on Mesut Özil's condition: "We don't know what the problem is. He has an ankle problem. We'll see how he progresses. I can't say right now". When questioned about José Mourinho's reception at the Bernabéu, the Real Madrid assistant manager said: "We are not on the pitch when the names are called out through the loud speakers. The fans are free to whistle".
Karanka was then asked about Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuaín: "It would be good for Cristiano and for Madrid if he stayed. With regard to Higuaín, a year ago the fans were begging him to stay and now this. That's football for you. He has the support of the coaching staff". On the controversy involving Portuguese centre-back, Pepe, he said: "Everyone can see that (Raphael) Varane has been playing exceptionally well. I'm surprised how everyone slaughters Pepe one minute and supports him the next".
The Basque assistant then spoke about his own future: "I'm not currently thinking about what I'll do when my time is over here. But it's true that I would like to manage one day". Karanka outlined who was in charge of team selection: "The manager is the one who picks the team and formation". "He also gives the team talk. The man who won the league last season – in a record-breaking year", he said in defence of Mourinho. He concluded by playing down talk of a gesture by Ronaldo after the Portuguese's goal: "Cristiano always looks to the bench when he scores".