MVG: MY PAIN GAME IS OVER
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN reckons he’s causing himself his own pain and grief.
But the world No.1 is adamant he’ll fire back refreshed for tomorrow’s restart of the Unibet Premier League.
Van Gerwen admits he’s been frustrated by lapses in form that saw him lose three of his six games last week in part one of the behind-closed-doors completion to the sectional phase of the competition in Milton Keynes.
The final four nights start with the Dutch destroyer facing Peter Wright.
Van Gerwen said: “I think, ‘What are you doing to yourself?’ I’m not doing them a favour.
“I’m giving myself a lot of pain for nothing because I know what I am capable of and what my capacity is.
“I have a lot of talent but you need to use it time after time. There is pressure on my shoulders and although I have big shoulders you still need to do it.
“I just had a bad week at the office. I made things difficult for myself.
“I felt more comfortable in the last couple of days. I said to my manager and my wife I feel good and it’s coming back.
“It’s taken me a bit too long and I didn’t want to be in this position but it’s nice for me to show I can do my best even under pressure.
“It is up to me to answer with good performances. I know I can do damage and I’ll be ready for the next guys.
“I’m always the man. They always try a little extra against me, I know that.
“But I can take a lot on my back and the only thing I need to do is to calm down.
“I’m not worried but you need to make sure you are doing enough to battle back. So long as you battle back, 100 per cent I know I will be at the top again soon.
“You have to believe in yourself and invest in yourself and it takes time.
“Of course not everything always goes easily. It’s what happens with other players. Through the year they have a bad period or a bad patch.
“But it’s how you react and deal with it. I think I deal with it well.”