Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel admits he could play striker Olivier Giroud more often.
The Frenchman is not first choice at the club, but started in the Champions League against Atletico Madrid.
He got the only goal of the game with a spectacular overhead kick, giving the Blues a 1-0 lead to take into the second leg.
"No, it was not [that we saved him for Atletico]," Tuchel told reporters post-game.
"We thought long and hard about putting him in. It was clearly a possibility that he starts against Southampton [after scoring versus Newcastle], then we analysed them and they are a very aggressive team and they press and play high up the pitch.
"So we expected more spaces behind the last line and we wanted more runs from deep. I had only three changes because in our league, it is only possible to have three changes. I wasn't too happy in my decisions in the game against Southampton.
"Maybe we missed the opportunity to bring him on at the end, but then I can say I saved him for today!"
Tuchel added: "If you see him daily, you cannot be surprised. He is totally fit, his body is in shape and his physicality is on top level.
"Mentally, I have really the feeling he enjoys every day being a professional soccer player on this level and this is the level he needs to be. He trains like a 20-year-old, like a 24-year-old.
"He is a guy who has a good mixture of serious and joy in training. He is always positive and it is a big factor for the group. He starts, when he comes from the bench, he has all these qualities and it is good like this."
