AUG 5 — Who is responsible for the national team’s debacle in Japan last week where they lost three friendly matches against clubs and conceded a total of 12 goals?

Critics already want national coach Datuk K. Rajagobal to be sacked for having taken the team to Japan during the fasting month and then admitting that it was a mistake as the majority of the players did not have the energy to play two of the three matches as they were held late morning and afternoon.

The national team lost 2-0 to J-League’s Shimizu S-Pulse — this game was played at 7pm — and then 5-0 to Shonan Bellmare and Tokyo Verdey, games that were played in three halves of 30 minutes.

It was a case of damned if you do, damned if you don’t for Rajagobal.

He was desperate for practice matches prior to playing against Barcelona FC on August 10 and as none was forthcoming, he decided to go to Japan at the invitation of Japan FA.

Critics say Rajagobal, as an experienced coach, should have known better than to take the team for the friendlies against the Japanese clubs when his players were not at their physical best.

“With hindsight, I should not have taken the team to Japan. But at the time I needed the matches and our players were keen to play. And the final decision to go to Japan was endorsed by the FA of Malaysia,” said Rajagobal.

“I am not shifting the blame to anyone. Yes, I wanted the matches, but it was with the good intention of seeing the team prepare for the matches ahead — Barcelona FC and the Asian Cup campaign.”

But critics say Rajagobal should not have put Malaysia in such an embarrassing situation.

The knives would also have been out for Rajagobal if he had not gone to Japan. He would have been slammed for fearing mere clubs.

“As far as I am concerned, I did everything in the best interests of the team. Yes, conceding 12 goals was embarrassing, but we still learnt in the process,” remarked Rajagobal.

While there are hints the other coaches, ex-internationals and even some in the media are conspiring to get rid of him, Rajagobal stressed that there was no such move among the players.

Rajagobal said although he respected the views of the critics and the media, he had a job to do and he wanted nothing to distract him from that.