Michael van Gerwen shrugged off Phil Taylor's words of warning, says Wayne Mardle
Thursday 24 March 2016 18:45, UK
Michael van Gerwen refused to engage Phil Taylor in a verbal battle after their latest Premier League showdown, says Wayne Mardle.
Van Gerwen and Taylor played out a dramatic 6-6 draw on night seven and the pair then shared a lively post-match interview at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow.
Live Premier League Darts
With 'Mighty Mike' standing a few inches away, Taylor warned his rival: "Look into my eyes, I'm going to get him."
Sky Sports expert Wayne Mardle had joined the pair on stage and believes Van Gerwen was purposefully blocking out this defiant prediction from 'The Power.'
Normally in years gone by, the player that is playing Phil hangs on every word he says, because he's been the master. But Michael feels he's better than him.
"Michael, you could clearly see, could not give a hoot what Phil Taylor was saying or doing," said Mardle. "He was just disappointed.
"He's got a respect for Phil on the board, but once the game was done he just wanted to be out of there. He didn't want to listen to Phil.
"Normally in years gone by, the player that is playing Phil hangs on every word he says, because he's been the master, but Michael feels he's better than him.
"Phil was the one over the moon and actually said a draw was a good result. Michael didn't feel that way, not at 5-1 up. He would have been absolutely livid and devastated."
Taylor overcame an early deficit to claim a draw and Mardle feels the 55-year-old would have gained confidence from this battling result.
But the Sky Sports expert insists the story of the match was more about Van Gerwen giving away a point rather than Taylor deservedly earning one.
"Walking away with the upper hand, it would have been Phil Taylor, because Michael had darts to win and didn't," said Mardle.
"Michael was the favourite to win and didn't. Being 5-1 up, that would have hurt Michael. But Michael still played well and showed that he has to miss for Phil to get anything out of that game.
"In my opinion we learned little. Michael should have won and didn't. The only thing that you could say was something to hang onto - was that Phil believes he's still got the game to beat Michael van Gerwen, which is obviously a positive for the world of darts."
SKY BET PRICE BOOST: MVG to win, hit the highest checkout & score most 180s now 1/1 (was 8/11)!
Watch all of the Premier League action this Thursday night, starting at 7pm on Sky Sports 1. Or watch for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV.
