'Like a wounded animal' - Vincent Van der Voort doesn't pull the punches after Michael van Gerwen Aberdeen loss

The pressure continues to mount on Michael van Gerwen following a dismal showing in Aberdeen, where the Dutchman suffered a heavy defeat to Nathan Aspinall in the Premier League Darts. With his position in the table slipping, the prospect of Van Gerwen missing the playoffs — something that has only happened once before — is becoming increasingly likely.

Van Gerwen opened the night facing a direct rival for a top-four spot, and it was Aspinall who came out on top. The Englishman not only claimed victory but leapfrogged Van Gerwen in the standings, taking the all-important fourth position. ‘The Asp’ didn’t stop there; he went on to win the night outright, pulling four points clear of ‘Mighty Mike’ with just one week of league action remaining. Van Gerwen now faces a must-win scenario in the final round to keep his playoff hopes alive.

Adding extra spice to the storyline, Van Gerwen and Aspinall are set to clash again next week in a pivotal showdown. But rather than inspiring confidence, Van Gerwen's performance on Thursday night raised serious concerns. His body language and darting rhythm appeared off — something noticed by Viaplay analyst and former pro Vincent van der Voort, who didn’t hold back in his post-match assessment of his longtime friend.

“You see so much more conviction in Aspinall,” Van der Voort said. “In how he stands on stage, in his throw — there’s real hunger and determination. He’s out there with a clear sense of purpose, like he wants it. With Michael, it just looks like he’s searching for something to click.”

Van der Voort believes serious change is needed if Van Gerwen hopes to return to his former dominance. “After the Premier League, something’s got to give. He needs to regroup, find consistency again, and get back to his old level.”

However Van der Voort is convinced that Van Gerwen can get back to his top level. ''I think he's still better than Aspinall is showing at the moment. Michael is not losing because he's getting outplayed, he can only blame himself.

In the past Van Gerwen used to put opponents at a psychological disadvantage with his imposing presence, but that's not the case anymore. ‘He used to walk onto the stage and he was already ahead 1-0 or 2-0. Just by his presence. Now he's like a wounded animal‘’, Van der Voort concluded.