A list of Solari's Isco snubs
The substitution of Isco in the 67th minute against Leganés was another snub as Solari refused to look at his player when he took him off. Here is all the snubs in recent weeks.
Santiago Solari took Isco off after 67 minutes against Leganés on Wednesday night. It was a change that signalled a problem on the field for Real Madrid and particularly Isco's performance with Solari's side trailing 1-0. As he walked off the field to take to the bench, Isco and Solari did not look at each other but when Lucas Vazquez was taken off, he was afforded a greeting by his coach. With Isco playing very little lately, it was a perfect chance for him to play a full 90 but Solari decided against it and it's another dig between the pair in what is becoming an ongoing issue for the team.
Brought him on at Eibar at 3-0 down
It was the first issue that caught media attention. Isco was left out against Eibar, which wasn't strange on its own. Isco was thrown on at 3-0 down, however, and while he couldn't really do much to affect change on the field, he made a gesture on the team bus that Solari was not happy with and thus started the battle between the pair.
Isco forced to watch Roma game in the stands
On November 27, Solari left Isco out of his squad entirely for the Roma game in the Champions League as he watched the game from the stands in the Stadio Olimpico. At first, many speculated that Isco must have picked up a knock, such was the rarity of his dropping. The player himself ruled out that possibility, however, as he confirmed he was fine upon leaving the dressing room after the game.
Zero minutes played in Abu Dhabi
Isco's face said it all as he celebrated in Zayes Sport Stadium in Abu Dhabi after Real Madrid have win their third conseuctive Club World Cup. It was humilating for the player in such a tame encounter (4-1 to Real Madrid) to be left without playing a single minute. Casemiro, Ceballos and Vinicius all came on with Isco left on the bench. He left the field midway through the celebrations.
Starts in inconsequential games
Solari has only given Isco three starts since he arrived on the bench at the Santiago Bernabéu and those three games were inconsequential. He played in the return left of the Copa del Rey against Melilla after they won the first left 0-4. He also played against CSKA Moscow in a game that meant nothing but which Real Madrid lost 3-0 with Isco being whistled heavily by the fans. In this third start, on Wednesday, against Leganés, Real Madrid were defending another hefty lead after winning 3-0 at the Bernabéu.
Three central defenders and no Isco
Real Madrid were plagued with injuried and absences heading to Betis on Sunday. It seemed there was no way Isco would not start. But Solari invented a new system with five defenders and Isco was yet again left on the bench. Casemiro, Valverde and Modric started in the middle and while Isco warmed up in the second half, he was left with zero minutes as BRahim, Ceballos and Critso were all brought on before him.
