AMSTERDAM, Sept 15 (Askume) – Heerenveen’s new coach Robin van Persie said he has no plans to change his side’s record-breaking 9-1 defeat in the Dutch Eredivisie on Saturday.
The former Arsenal and Manchester United striker is in his first season as coach of a top-flight club and in his fourth game in charge his side suffered their biggest ever defeat at AZ Alkmaar.
“It’s tough. You go through a lot of ups and downs in your career. This is a big up and down. We have learned more lessons from this game than usual,” said Van Persie, who has won one game and lost two games in the new league season since becoming the club’s head coach.
“It’s part of football. I’m not shocked by it and neither are my players. You want to perform at your best. That includes falling down and getting back up again.”
Van Persie, who has played over 100 games for the Dutch side, believes their performance in the first half was still good, despite Heerenveen trailing 1-2 at halftime.
“Then the start of the second half was crucial and fast. But the third, fourth and fifth goals came one after the other. For AZ it was like adding fuel to the fire, they saw their chance,” Van Persie said.
It was a record win for AZ, who trail league table-toppers PSV Eindhoven by two points.
But Van Persie told reporters afterwards that he had no intention of abandoning his attacking philosophy.
“Even if things don’t go your way, three goals in a row in the second half, it’s important that you keep doing what you agreed to do.
“We will continue to play our game. That’s what I believe and that’s what we believe.”
