Malaysia coach Dollah Salleh says his nation will need better preparation for international matches in the wake of Thursday's humiliating 6-0 defeat in the friendly against Oman in Muscat.
While accepting responsibility for the drubbing in the Middle East, the 51-year-old former Malaysia striker says he will ensure that his squads are not underdone in the future.
"It's my mistake," Dollah was quoted by The Star after returning home to Kuala Lumpur. "We should have been better prepared to face Oman, who are of much higher calibre. It is a good lesson for me and I assure that we will not repeat the same mistake."
Dollah mentioned he will raise the issue of longer duration to prepare for international matches before the national team management committee.
"We need at least two weeks to prepare the team for an international assignment. I also need to put them in a warm up match before the real test. It is impossible to get them ready after assembling the team in just two or three days," said Dollah, who guided Hairmau Malaya to the Suzuki Cup final last year.
Paul Le Guen's Oman gave Malaysia a masterclass in football with a brace each from Yaqoob Abdulkarim and Abdulaziz Al-Muqbali. Said Qasim and Mohsin Johar completed the rout.
Malaysia forwards Norsharul Idlan Talaha and Mohd Amri Yahyah barely tested Wigan Athletic goalkeeper and Oman captain Ali Al-Habsi throughout the game.
"I admit we are not ready for such a high level opponent but we could have done much better against this Oman team," said Dollah, who scored the game's only goal the last time Malaysia played a friendly in Oman 22 years ago. "I expected us to put up a fight but the game turned out to be totally a one-sided affair. We looked like small kids being bullied."
Malaysia are currently preparing for the qualifying rounds for Russia 2018 -- they will know their international opponents on April 14 when the draw for the second round of AFC World Cup qualifying matches is made in Kuala Lumpur.
Dollah's side will play Premier League heavyweights Tottenham Hotspur at the Shah Alam Stadium on May 24 ahead of their first qualifiers in June.