Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos has paid tribute to Santiago Solari for making the Los Blancos XI "less predictable" this season.

Ceballos has already started six La Liga matches for Madrid this term - two more than the whole of last season, when he struggled for action under Zinedine Zidane.

Zidane rarely made alterations to his preferred XI during his time in charge of first-team affairs, but Solari has been keen to rotate since replacing Julen Lopetegui as head coach.

Ceballos has said that the younger players in the squad are benefiting from Solari's approach.

"This year is different, in fact it is maybe a little unusual. There are a lot of younger players who are pressing to be played in the first team and that is making our line-ups less predictable and keeping players on their toes," Ceballos told El Pais.

"Before, this was not the case but now we have a lot of younger players who are being called into the side, I think it is good. I am really happy for [Marcos] Llorente, for Fede (Federico Valverde) and for myself, because this is what we all need and it gives us motivation.

"It also should improve the players who are more established and gives us a better dynamic."

Madrid are in Copa del Rey action against Melilla on Thursday afternoon.