Even as a skinny, spiky-haired teenager who was scarcely qualified to share a stage with darts’ best players, Michael van Gerwen had no fear of the legendary Phil Taylor. And so began the impregnable mind-set that has spawned one of his generation’s most consistently perfect sportspeople.He is the greatest of all time, but I am the best of all time - its not that Van Gerwen doesnt have respect for Taylor, the elder statesman of the oche. But he makes it crystal clear that, while Taylor warrants credit for dragging darts onto a mainstream pedestal and reaping rewards along the way, the bar has now been dramatically raised.Perhaps Van Gerwen, the current world No 1, plays with the freedom of knowing that he will never match Taylors astonishing 16 world titles, the majority of which were achieved in the drastically different landscape of the 1990s. No, its not possible to win more, or become the greatest ever, because I cannot win 16 world titles, the 27-year-old exclusively told Sky Sports. I will be retired before. No, its not possible to win more, or become the greatest ever, because I cannot 16 world titles. I will be retired before. Michael van Gerwen Van Gerwen first defeated Taylor as a 17-year-old in the Netherlands, his homeland, in their second head-to-head meeting. Tellingly, despite a total of 56 matches between them, Van Gerwen needs no reminding of the first time he beat Taylor.Correct, it was a big tournament in Holland, he said. I beat him in the group stage over there. I had a lot of confidence - I was probably the first one to beat him 3-0 in sets. The best Ive ever played - Phil Taylor pays tribute Live Grand Slam of Darts November 12, 2016, 1:00pm Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass Even aged 17, was that the moment when Van Gerwen realised his eventual fate to overtake Taylor? He takes a long pause before answering. A very long pause as he tries to remember his less battle-hardened psychology.You think you can, but its not easy to change things around and actually be the best in the world. You get confidence, and try to play the best possible. I always believed in myself and you have to do that, otherwise you cant win something.Van Gerwen has grown into one of sports most recognisable figures - always clad in green, he stands as tall as a great oak yet, and despite his burgeoning personal brand, remains polite and jovial away from the oche. He even apologises to Sky Sports for keeping us waiting for just a few minutes. Thats hard to do, trying to become a winner. You first need to know what its like to lose before you can win something. Michael van Gerwen Did he learn the hard way on the BDO circuit as a teen prodigy? You learn to travel on your own, you learn to compete against people with a lot of experience which is hard to do. Thats hard to do, trying to become a winner. You first need to know what its like to lose before you can win something.I enjoyed it because, at that moment, it was a big thing. I was No 1 in the BDO rankings. It was good to start with but…. Van Gerwen pauses to search for the right words. It was only the beginning.Its worth remembering that the Dutchmans rapid ascent to the pinnacle of darts has overcome a major road-bump when even his most ardent followers considered that he might waste his talent. Michael van Gerwen beat Gary Anderson 5-2 to win the World Grand Prix title for a third time Of course I can remember, I had too many of them. I had moments where I was better than 90 per cent of the field, but I lost to 90 per cent of the field. You need to ask what am I doing wrong? Where can I improve? What can I do to change things around?I also had a couple of years like a beginner because I wasnt confident and I couldnt win a tournament. But you need to try and change that around. You need the confidence on your side, rather than the other way around. You need them to look up to you, not the other way around. If you look up to someone, you fear them. If you look up to someone, you fear them. Michael van Gerwen Van Gerwen is now the most feared player on the circuit, having just won a third successive European Championship plus the UK Open, World Matchplay and World Grand Prix. He is the reigning Grand Slam champion ahead of the tournaments restart, live on Sky Sports, between November 12-20.Asked if any other sportspeople match his iron grip over their chosen realm, Van Gerwen is fully aware of his own greatness: I realise that, and sometimes its a bit unbelievable what Im doing at the moment. You need to realise that because it makes you stronger. Sky Sports experts believe MVG still requires another world title Ronnie OSullivan, what he said about me in an interview with just a couple of words, was fantastic. He called me the greatest sportsman on earth, and thats a big compliment. Hes probably the most dominant snooker player, and the best of all time. He can hit a 147 with his right or left hand.But can Van Gerwen throw darts with his weaker hand? I cannot, so hes probably more special than me. Theres a few capable darts players descending on Wolverhampton this weekend that might disagree.Watch Van Gerwen at the Grand Slam of Darts, live on Sky Sports, November 12-20.Also See:Major milestonesMVG-Wolfie at Grand SlamMVG triumphant in GlasgowMardles group of deathGreg Vaughn Jersey . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Chase Anderson Jersey . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. https://www.cheapbrewers.com/1919y-ryan-braun-jersey-brewers.html .35 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. Plouffe batted .254 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs in 477 at-bats last season, his second as a regular in the lineup. Matt Albers Brewers Jersey . Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., team took control of the game early. Devin Williams Jersey . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.Manchester Citys hopes of winning the Premier League title were dealt a significant blow on Saturday as relegation-threatened Norwich held them to a goalless draw.City boss Manuel Pellegrini opted to partner Wilfried Bony with Sergio Aguero up front at Carrow Road, but the Ivory Coast striker did not touch the ball inside the area for the entirety of his stint before being replaced by Raheem Sterling.Bony has scored just four goals in 19 Premier League appearances this season, and Sky Sports pundit Thierry Henry was left baffled by the 27-year-olds lack of presence in the area on Saturday. I couldnt understand it. Theyre trying to get back in the title race and need goals for that. Pellegrini went with two strikers, he said. Bony has struggled to hold down a first-team place since moving to City You should be running, breaking your neck to get into the box.dddddddddddd Thats not good enough, you have to be in the box. Who is there to make sure that you can upset the Norwich defence?Saturdays draw in East Anglia leaves City nine points adrift of leaders Leicester with just nine games left to play. And Henry believes the clubs focus may now have switched to a battle for the top four rather than one for the Premier League title.I think its Leicesters to lose, he added. We were saying before the game: Can Man City win the title? I think the question now is: Can they stay in the top four?Hit the video at the top of this story for Henrys assessment in full.Also See:City hopes hurt by drawMan City videoMan City fixturesMan City stats ' ' '