'Responsibility belongs to everyone' - Keylor Navas responds to criticism of Costa Rica coach Miguel Herrera

But those expectations are now in jeopardy.

The Mexican coach’s position is under threat after Costa Rica’s poor start to the World Cup qualifiers. Los Ticos opened with a 1-1 draw in Nicaragua and closed the FIFA window with a 3-3 tie against Haiti, results that sparked heavy criticism from the local media.

To make matters worse, Herrera stirred controversy by partially blaming his players, something that did not sit well - though Pumas goalkeeper Keylor Navas stepped in to defend his coach.

While speculation grows over whether a coaching change could happen - though for now it seems unlikely - Keylor Navas, the captain and historic figure of La Sele, was asked by a journalist if it would be wise to change the coach.

The 38-year-old goalkeeper didn’t dodge the question and defended Herrera’s work, while still acknowledging reality. 

“It’s a difficult situation," he said. "These decisions are never made by players but by a Committee. I can speak as a footballer about the work we’ve done with Miguel, about how professional he is, how much we train, and how hard we work. Unfortunately, in football, things don’t always go the way you want.

“We had a complicated start to the qualifiers, but what cannot be questioned is the work being done. There are many things that the results don’t reflect. We’re here to contribute, and as players, we also carry responsibility for the results."

The former Real Madrid star emphasized that responsibility cannot fall solely on one person.

“The responsibility belongs to everyone. As players, we must also face our responsibilities. This isn’t about attacking the coach, the players, or the federation. Nobody wants to do things wrong, but unfortunately football often doesn’t smile on us the way we’d like,” he said.