FURIA lost to Legacy in the EWC third-place match, finishing the tournament in fourth place. After the match, head coach sidde discussed the team's current issues in an interview with Dust2.Br, stating that the team is in a phase of lacking synergy.
sidde："I often emphasize this sense of synergy. This is also why even teams like Vitality can experience a decline in performance. When something starts to go wrong, some players might not be at their best, and as a team, sometimes you no longer believe in the same things. When you face even a slight disconnect against strong teams, it can cause significant disruption on the field."
"I think we started to doubt ourselves at certain moments on the field. Sometimes everyone was playing different things, with inconsistent ideas. So we need to get back to that state where everyone fights for the same goal, shares the same understanding of every round, and takes every point seriously. Just because we're ahead doesn't mean we can play carelessly, like going for eco rounds or chasing kills. These behaviors are actually destructive to the team, and when the team isn't perfectly in sync, these issues begin to surface."
sidde also mentioned that FURIA was affected by nerves in big games.
Sidde：“Everyone knows how to play the game; we're all strong. But we really need to find the rhythm of big tournaments because playing in a large venue is completely different from group stages. Although the team is experienced, the weight of these matches is different, and that affects the players. Right now, we're definitely feeling the impact of this—a bit of nervousness in major tournaments. It's time to regain that synergy that makes the game flow smoothly.”
sidde stated that these current problems faced by FURIA were evident in both the semifinal loss to FUT and the third-place match loss to Legacy.
Sidde: "I think some of yesterday's issues carried over into today's matches. In rounds where we were ahead and should have secured the win, maybe due to nerves or lack of focus, we gave away rounds we should have taken. For example, on Dust2, after winning the pistol round, we briefly regained control of the match, but we made mistakes when we should have managed our economy, saved weapons, or played an ECO. There was a round we shouldn't have bought weapons but did, yet we still lost it, and we couldn't close out even in a T-side favorable situation, getting upset by the opponent's ECO. I feel these issues were already present yesterday and just continued today."
Regarding YEKINDAR serving as the in-game leader and FalleN's replacement
sidde provided details on FURIA's search for FalleN's replacement and stated that they are currently testing having YEKINDAR as the in-game leader, which could be one of the future options.
sidde：Our tests are mainly based on some maps, where YEKINDAR's understanding is better than FalleN's. He commands more smoothly on certain maps and is easier to control than FalleN. Given his strong in-game vision and comprehension, we are indeed considering him as a future captain.
We currently have two options: either find a new in-game leader to replace FalleN, or bring in a non-leader player and have YEKINDAR take on the in-game leader role. This hasn't been finalized yet—it depends on him, the results of negotiations, and ultimately who we can sign. If we find a strong in-game leader, we might prioritize signing one and letting them continue in their current role. But everything hinges on who we can bring in for that position. It's an open possibility. I don't think it's the most likely scenario, but it is certainly an option.
With FalleN's retirement date set for December this year, sidde revealed that FURIA has already begun contacting potential replacements.
sidde: "We have already started some contacts. We must prepare in advance because the transfer market changes quickly. We need to understand which players are available on the market and whether we can poach talent from other teams. FURIA as a club has already begun making inquiries in the market, and we are conducting our own scouting as well."
We have already compiled a list of players we hope to bring in next year, but everything depends on how the next few months unfold. Many things could happen, other clubs might undergo personnel changes, and new options could emerge on the market. The current stage involves gathering names and researching the market. We already have clear timelines, and when the time comes, we will make our decisions and push forward with full force.