New Heerenveen coach Robin van Persie admitted he learned more than he expected after his team endured a devastating 9-1 loss in the Dutch league on Saturday, but he remains committed to his coaching philosophy.

The former Arsenal and Manchester United star, now in his debut season as a top-tier manager, witnessed his squad suffer a humiliating defeat at the hands of AZ Alkmaar. This marked the worst loss in the club's history and came in just his fourth game in charge.

“It’s a tough pill to swallow. Every career faces challenges, and this was certainly a major one. We picked up more lessons from this match than usual,” Van Persie said. With one win, one draw, and now two losses under his belt, he remains optimistic. “This is football. Neither I nor the team are scarred by this. The aim is always to push yourself to your limits, and that involves stumbling and rising again.”

Despite the final score, Van Persie felt his team played well in the first half, trailing just 2-1 at halftime. 

“You need to come out strong in the second half, but the third, fourth, and fifth goals followed in rapid succession. That fueled AZ's momentum, and they took full advantage,” Van Persie explained.

The win was a historic triumph for AZ, leaving them just two points shy of league leaders PSV Eindhoven. However, Van Persie remains resolute in his strategy.

“Even when the game turns against you, as it did in the second half with those quick goals, you have to stick to your plan. We’ll continue to play our style of football. That’s my belief, and the team shares it. Our next chance comes on Tuesday against FC Twente,” he added, referring to their upcoming away match.