Michael van Gerwen launches astonishing rant after being labelled 'lazy' - 'Rollercoaster year'

The year started with the Dutchman in fine form, storming to the final of the World Championships, where he was beaten by world no 2 Luke Littler.

However, the 36-year-old’s form has tailed off significantly since, winning just the German Darts Grand Prix so far.

His most disappointing form has been most evident in the Premier League, where the seven-time champion of the competition is facing elimination before the play-offs for the first time since 2020.

Mighty Mike is without a nightly win after 15 weeks, having recently being knocked out in the quarter-finals twice in a row.

This has led to Littler, along with world No. 1 Luke Humphries, stretching the gap between the pair and the chasing pack significantly, with the duo winning over half of the nights so far.

The growing gap can be seen in the PDC Order of Merit, too, with Littler earning £1.3million compared to Van Gerwen’s £734,000.

As a result of this, and Van Gerwen cutting an increasingly frustrated figure at the oche, fans have taken to social media to label the three-time World champion as ‘lazy’ - claims which Van Gerwen was quick to refute.

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Speaking to Online Darts, Van Gerwen said: “I’ve been working and practising a lot. Of course, it doesn’t always pay out, but I’m doing the work.

"What you have to do and what you want to put in and, of course, 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, maybe 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 performances and it’s the only thing I can do.

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The schedule has been a contentious point for many darts players recently, with Humphries claiming he had been left “emotionless” by the intense fixture list, and it felt like a “chore”.

Despite this, the Dutchman was quick to defend his ability and stressed that it was this self-belief that would get him through such a tough period.

“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.

"Believe in your own ability and then the rest will come automatically. You’re going to have tough patches, but as long as you keep believing that everything is possible.

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“It’s like a big rollercoaster at the moment and things don’t always go my way.

“Of course, I say, when I’m on top of my game, I know I can beat anyone, probably be the best player in the world.

"But I don’t show it enough at the moment and that’s a question I have to answer myself to solve it and to make sure I’m going to turn it.”

Despite being just 36, van Gerwen also admitted that he is now very experienced in the game, and it could make moving forward and winning titles more difficult.

“When you’re facing the past, your back [is] against the future and I want to face the future. I’m getting older. I’ve been in the game for a long time.

"I’ve played darts for more than 25 years now, and sometimes it gets a bit harder. Then you need to try to invest more time into yourself.

"But I’m willing to do that and I feel good. I feel comfortable and I think there’s more in the tank.”

Fans across the world will be hoping van Gerwen does have “more in the tank” and that one of the best players the sport has ever seen can regain his form for the rest of the calendar year and beyond.