"It becomes too much for him at times" - Vincent van der Voort sees Michael van Gerwen struggling with himself

Michael van Gerwen is not currently experiencing the best period of his career. Even at the past Players Championships in Rosmalen, the 35-year-old Dutchman was not exactly improving.

At Players Championship 13, Van Gerwen went down immediately in the opening round against Mario Vandenbogaerde. "It wasn't good. That injury is not completely over yet and you notice by everything that he is not throwing freely," Vincent van der Voort told Sportnieuws.nl.

"Everything takes a lot of effort. There has to be relaxation on it, but it just doesn't work. Then you notice that the average pulls down and then Michael is just one of many. Then he's tipsy. Vandenbogaerde also just deservedly won, because he was the better one. It does become worrisome now that it happens a few times in a row."

However, the busy calendar means there is hardly any time to adjust anything. "You notice now that it also bothers him. That injury should be over, but Thursday he has to go to Ahoy for the Premier League Darts and at the weekend is already the Euro Tour in Munich. He has no time to train, rest or receive treatment," Van der Voort said.

Skipping tournaments is not an option, according to Van der Voort. "He's in a tough spot and that's hard for other people to understand. He is so under a magnifying glass and also puts enormous pressure on himself. As a result, expectations are very high. You increasingly have the idea that at times it becomes too much for him, that pressure."

Van Gerwen's birthday is coming up soon, turning 36 on April 25. "He already has very little rest and then his birthday is also coming up. Then, of course, there are all kinds of things. It's very hard work for a little level. You can only turn that around with training, rest and by doing the right things. It's not going to get better by itself," Van der Voort concluded.