Sun Sep 15 10:53:05 UTC 2024: ## Van Persie Defiant After Heerenveen’s Record Defeat

Heerenveen suffered a record 9-1 defeat to AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch Eredivisie on Sunday, marking a tough start to Robin van Persie’s managerial career. The former Dutch striker, who took over as manager in May, remained defiant after the match, emphasizing that he and his players will not be deterred by the heavy loss.

“This is part of football,” Van Persie said. “I have not been traumatised by this and neither have my players.” He added that it’s crucial to “keep doing the things you agreed on” even when facing adversity.

The defeat comes after Heerenveen had already suffered a 8-0 loss at home to PSV Eindhoven earlier in the season. The 9-1 loss is the first time Heerenveen has conceded nine goals in the Eredivisie, leaving them in 12th place with four points from Van Persie’s first four games in charge.

Despite the setback, Van Persie remains committed to his game plan. “We’ll keep playing our own game. That’s what I believe in and what we believe in,” he stated.

The match saw a dominant performance from AZ Alkmaar, led by former Tottenham striker Troy Parrott who scored four goals. The win propelled AZ into second place in the table.

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