Phil Taylor: Michael van Gerwen is cracking under the pressure

Phil Taylor says Michael van Gerwen is feeling the pressure and is starting to crack under the strain of being the world No 1.

Sixteen-time world champion Taylor takes on Van Gerwen in the Premier League on Thursday night and says he plans to be accompanied on stage by bagpipes in a bid to put the Dutchman off his game.

Van Gerwen recently took a swipe at his rivals by accusing Adrian Lewis of trying to slow the game down and saying Peter Wright acted unprofessionally by trying to whip up the crowd.

Taylor was at the Donna Louise Children's Hospice in Stoke to launch the official partnership with the PDC but took time out to speak to Sky Sports News HQ. 

He said: "I think he is feeling the pressure a little bit and it's just beginning to take it's toll.

"Our game now is week in week out so you have to play well, not once, not twice but 600 times a year now.

"He is feeling the pressure a bit and cracking just a little bit.

"I don't think Adrian (Lewis) tried to slow him down. Peter Wright is Peter Wright - he's an entertainer, he doesn't try to put Michael off  but I think Michael is chewing at the bit a little bit. I think he is making excuses to be a little bit under pressure.

He (van Gerwen) is feeling the pressure a bit and cracking just a little bit.

"But he'll handle it, he knows what he is doing, he's not a daft lad, so I'm going to go on with bagpipes tomorrow and see what he says about that.

I shall just go and play my game, there is no point in trying to put people off anyway. If you go up there and start thinking about doing things against Michael then you are just going to put yourself off anyway.

"Tomorrow will be a cracker we are in for a good game.

Taylor has won five out of his last six meetings with Van Gerwen and is backing himself to continue that good form when the pair meet in Nottingham.

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"The Premier League to me now is as big as the World's so I want to qualify.

"There are only four weeks left so everybody is chomping at the bit, the bottom two are playing each other so there are going to be points lost by one of them so it's all about qualifying for the next round and that's what everybody is scrapping for.

"That's why you have seen a little bit of tempers flaring and a little bit of back room spats but there are all right I'll just tell them to shut up."

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