The former Tottenham striker Troy Parrott scored four goals as AZ enjoyed a 9-1 Eredivisie victory over Heerenveen whose fledgling head coach, Robin van Persie, called the defeat a “very big bump”.
Parrott, who went without a goal in his first four games since joining in the summer, netted once in the first half and then added three more goals in eight second-half minutes in a seismic win to propel his club up to second in the Dutch top flight.
Van Persie said he learned more lessons than expected in the bruising loss but has no plans to change his approach. The former Arsenal and Manchester United forward is in his first season as a coach of a top-flight club and in his fourth match in charge saw his side endure their biggest defeat ever at AZ.
“This is tough. You’ll encounter a number of bumps in your career. This was a very big bump. We learned a few more lessons from this match than we normally would,” said van Persie, who has won one game, drawn one and now lost two matches in the new league season after being appointed.
“This is part of football. I have not been traumatised by this and neither have my players. You want to get the best out of yourself. That involves falling and getting up again.”
Van Persie, who won more than 100 caps for the Netherlands, felt that Heerenveen played well in the first half despite being 2-1 down at the break. “Then it is important that you start the second half well and with sharpness. But the third, fourth and fifth goals [scored by Parrott] came in quick succession. For AZ that was fuel to the fire, they saw their chance,” he said.
It was a record victory for AZ, who are two points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven in the league standings. But Van Persie told reporters afterwards he had no intention of abandoning his attacking philosophy.
“Even when things aren’t going your way, with three goals in quick succession in the second half, it’s important to keep doing the things you agreed on. We’ll keep playing our own game. That’s what I believe in and what we believe in. Tuesday is the next chance against FC Twente,” he said, referring to Heerenveen’s next league match which is away again.
