September 15th 2024.
Robin van Persie's first taste of management didn't go as planned as his Heerenveen team suffered a humiliating 9-1 loss to AZ Alkmaar on Saturday. The former Arsenal and Manchester United striker, who previously worked as an assistant and youth team coach at Feyenoord, has only managed to win one out of four games since taking over in May.
The game against Alkmaar proved to be a tough lesson for Van Persie and his team, with former Tottenham forward Troy Parrott scoring four goals to secure a record win for his team. Reflecting on the defeat, Van Persie admitted that it was a big blow for the team, but also acknowledged that these kinds of setbacks are a part of football.
"This is tough. You'll encounter a number of bumps in your career. This was a very big bump," Van Persie said. "We learned a few more lessons from this match than we normally would. This is part of football. I have not been traumatized by this and neither have my players."
Having experienced a similar heavy defeat during his playing career, Van Persie is determined to use that experience to help his team bounce back from this disheartening loss. "I also know how it works," he said. "I also lost 8-2 to Manchester United once. That wasn't fun either, but it's part of being a footballer. It's part of everyone's journey to become the best version of themselves."
Van Persie understands that the road to success is full of trials and errors, and it's how one responds to these setbacks that truly defines their character. "That's a road of trial and error, but in the end, it's precisely at moments like these that it's about owning it like a guy," he explained. "Towards the boys, the media, your family and friends. The football world can be quite a tough world. Quite a lot of people like it when things go badly. You have to own that."
Despite the tough defeat, Van Persie remains confident in his team's abilities and believes that they must stay true to themselves even when things get tough. "We remain ourselves, even when things get tough. That's what I believe in and what the boys believe in," he said. "It's about standing with your chest out in these very situations and being proud of yourself and each other. That's what we have to continue to do."
As Van Persie and his team reflect on the defeat and work towards improvement, they remain focused and determined to achieve success in the future. They know that setbacks are a part of the journey, but it's how they overcome them that truly matters.
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