I never said it'd be me and 10 others – Isco accepts Lopetegui rotation
Madrid dropped points for the first time this season in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao, as Isco came off the bench to rescue them after the break.
It was the second LaLiga game in a row that Isco has been left out of the starting XI, after also appearing as a substitute against Leganes before the international break.
Such a situation has come as a surprise to some in Spain, considering many expected Isco to be a crucial part of Lopetegui's team after working together to great success with the national side in the past.
But Isco is adamant rotation is not an issue.
FT: @Athletic_en 1-1 @realmadriden
Muniain 32'; @isco_alarcon 63' #RMLiga | #Emirates pic.twitter.com/oodpuUD4nv
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) September 15, 2018
"It's not just me in the team," said the 26-year-old. "There are other team-mates who may be better than me and that's why the coach chooses his starting line-up.
"All that stuff about how it was going to be Isco and 10 more under Lopetegui, that's what you [reporters] were saying.
"It's a long season and we'll need to be prepared. As the coach says, the important thing is that everyone is ready and ready to meet the objectives."
With Barcelona having overturned a deficit to win on Saturday, Madrid are two points behind their rivals at the summit.