Soccer-Van Persie's coaching debut ends in away defeat

AFC Ajax NV

11/08/2024 20:11

AMSTERDAM, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Robin van Persie’s
coaching debut ended in defeat on Sunday as Heerenveen lost
their opening game of the new season in the Netherlands at Ajax
Amsterdam.
    A goal from Kristian Hlynsson was enough to send Heerenveen
home without any points and leave the former Dutch international
striker, who played at Arsenal and Manchester United, feeling
they had missed out on an opportunity.
    “Based on the entire match, there might have been more in
it,” Van Persie told television reporters afterwards. 
    “We had a few chances in the first half. We had hoped that
one of them would have gone in and created a bit more belief. In
the second half, you could see our intentions but we didn't
really create any chances.”
    That is what he said he would work on for the next game. 
    “We are going to face FC Utrecht next week in high spirits. 
    “With this way of playing, I cannot promise that we will win
every match, but in terms of intensity and sometimes also
quality, this is football as I think you should play it. We will
show that every week,” he added.
    The 41-year-old Van Persie, who scored 50 goals in 102
internationals for the Netherlands, was taken on Feyenoord’s
coaching staff after he retired from playing in 2020, before
joining Heerenveen.
    They will play their first home match of the season against
Utrecht on Saturday.

 (Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Andrew
Cawthorne)
 ((mark.gleeson@thomsonreuters.com; +27828257807; Reuters
Messaging: mark.gleeson.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))