Former Manchester United star Robin van Persie suffered a heavy 9-1 defeat in just his fourth game as the manager of Heerenveen, taking over from Kees van Wonderen in May.
Heerenveen were defeated by AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie, with Luuk Brouwers scoring Heerenveen’s only goal in the match.
This game marked Van Persie’s fourth in charge, with the team having secured a victory over NAC Breda in the previous match. They have collected four points from four games at the start of the 2024/25 season.
Following the defeat, Van Persie commented on the match, stating that he and his players were not ‘traumatised’ by the result.
“This is tough,” he said. “You’ll face obstacles in your career. This was a significant one. We learned valuable lessons from this match. It’s all part of football. We are not shaken by this, and neither are my players.
“You have to strive for the best. That means falling and getting back up.”
Van Persie, who had a successful career at Arsenal before moving to Manchester United, emphasized the importance of resilience in tough situations.
“I’ve experienced setbacks too,” he added. “I once lost 8-2 to Manchester United. It’s not pleasant, but it’s part of the game. It’s part of the journey to self-improvement.
“In such moments, you have to stand tall and be proud of yourself and your team. That’s what we need to do moving forward.”
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