if only for the first two jumping passes...It sounds like psychological help has been useful for him in terms of dealing with the aftermath of events like the Olympics, Euros 2017 and such. It has been less successful in teaching him to put his head in the right place before skates. Or rather, it was relatively successful until the pressure really hit. Something about the pressure and the expectations, including his own, just pushes all the wrong buttons in him.
Oh, he is totally aware of his strengths (as well as weaknesses) even if he doesn't necessarily admit to it in his interviews, talking himself up isn't his thing but people who have spoken with him privately made it clear he has a good grasp on everything. He can deal with failing at things he is aware are simply not there yet, but knowing he can do something and not doing it is clearly the absolute worst for him. Which is why it is problematic if he wants perfect skates each and every time now, these expectations just make things worse. He needs to stop trying to prove things to himself and/or others.
Well, last season he fell in a step sequence and missed a spin, both once, these types of mistakes sound truly accidental, it's not about forgetting how to spin or do triple lutzes. There is a very good chance he never pops that particular combo again. I would be more worried if he popped an axel from this point of view. But this doesn't by any means exclude future mistakes in other places.I'm just not looking forward to the usual "there are certain mistakes I cannot forgive myself for" post-competition interviewand it will be even worse since he popped a lutz, his money jump, not the loop
Loss of concentration after the stepout on the 4T leading to his takeoff timing being off on the lutz, something like that. He needs not to let an unexpected mistake affect his concentration for the next jump.
