Nathan Aspinall has made a worrying remark about Michael van Gerwen after knocking him out of Premier League Darts.
Aspinall beat Van Gerwen 6-2 to qualify for the Finals Night in London next week - at the expense of the Dutchman.
Three-time world champion Van Gerwen had to win the entire night - something he has not done all season - to finish inside the top four, but fell at the quarter-final stage.
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It has been a difficult campaign for the 'Green Machine', with six quarter-final exits and only two appearances in the final.
Van Gerwen also withdrew from week nine after suffering a neck injury while putting on his darts shirt.
He reached the final of the World Darts Championship in January, but lost 7-3 in sets to Luke Littler in what was a very atypical Michael van Gerwen performance.
Fast forward nearly six months and the Dutchman has been eliminated in the group phase of the Premier League for the first time since 2020.
Speaking after their quarter-final clash, Aspinall backed Van Gerwen to immediately bounce back, but made a worrying admission about the 36-year-old.
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He told Sky Sports' Glen Durrant - who won the Premier League the last time MVG failed to qualify - about what he noticed on stage while playing the three-time world champion.
He explained: "I've spoken all week so highly of Michael, that I know he can go and win tonight.
"But again, I don't know what's going on. He just didn't look himself again tonight. Even on that stage, he was giving up.
"But I've got to look at myself and I thought I put in a fantastic performance under that pressure."
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Speaking to Online Darts last week, Van Gerwen hinted that his schedule over 'the last 13, 14, 15 years' had played a role in his poor form.
He said: "I've been working and practicing a lot. Of course, it doesn't always pay out, but I'm doing the work.
"At some point it will pay out. I know that.
"Sometimes when you're too busy, people don't know my schedule. Maybe only Phil Taylor, Luke Littler now, but no-one else my schedule in the last 13, 14, 15 years. So it's difficult for them to judge about it. They've never been in that position.
"I have to just answer with my performances and it's the only thing I can do.
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"I've been in tough positions before as well. I had some other tough patches in my life, but you always survive. I know what I'm capable of. As long as you keep believing that everything is possible."
Topics: Luke Littler, Darts
Ryan Smart