Vicente del Bosque has admitted that he was not surprised by Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho's decision to drop Iker Casillas against Malaga last weekend.
The goalkeeper was left out of the side as the defending champions slumped to a 3-2 defeat in La Liga but Spain manager Del Bosque refused to criticise Mourinho.
"That's the coach's decision, I have nothing to say [on this matter]," Del Bosque told Deportes Cuatro.
"It should not surprise us at all. He will have done what he thought was best for the team."
Madrid are currently third in La Liga, 16 points behind leaders Barcelona.