Michael van Gerwen labelled many of his darts rivals “weak as f***” and laid out his intentions ahead of the fourth Premier League night.
The Dutchman has not won a single evening so far but still sits third in the table on six points, ahead of Luke Littler, despite the world champion taking top spot in Glasgow earlier this month.
The eight-strong event travel to Exeter on Thursday and although Van Gerwen is aware of pressure ramping up on him, following a disappointing 2024 by his standards, knows he thrives when the spotlight is on.
“I’ve been playing in the Premier League for a little while, so to perform in front of all those people, it gives you joy, it gives you energy, and that’s what’s so nice about darts,” Van Gerwen told Sky Sports.
The 35-year-old doesn’t believe that every professional who steps up to the oche has the same view, however. He lashed out at those who crumble when the going gets tough.
“A lot of people, they don’t have a mindset,” he added. “You know what I mean? They just say they have a mindset, but they’re weak as f***. And that’s the way how it is.
“You have to be honest to yourself, and when something is good, it’s good. When it is bad, it’s bad, and you have to move on, you have to face the problems, and when things don’t go your way, you have to work on it, and then have to move forward.
“(Conversation about my form) happens when I am not even playing my best darts, so could you imagine if I played my best darts?”
Very few need to be reminded of Van Gerwen’s talent as a four-time world champion, even though he has gone through a public slump in the past 12 months.
A disappointing campaign for him culminated in reaching the World Championship final, the pinnacle of many careers, though he ultimately went down to the whirlwind that was Littler at Alexandra Palace last month.
And Van Gerwen’s rivals have been warned that a storm is brewing, with PDC star Matthew Edgar insisting: “I think he’s [Van Gerwen] in a situation he probably doesn’t like.
“The conversation of who is the best player in the world has always been Michael van Gerwen or this or that player. But he’s not really in that conversation, despite the fact he reached a world final. He’s being overlooked.
“I think there’s going to be a backlash. We’re going to see Michael van Gerwen hit back and hit back hard. But he needs that consistency, that game-by-game. That’s what the Premier League is.”
