torzsi feels that as MOUZ keeps beating some of the best teams in the world, their status is rising.
MOUZ's young roster is enjoying an excellent season, and it just got even better as they beat Spirit to secure a playoff spot at PGL Masters Bucharest. The victory also marked their third consecutive win over Spirit, showing that MOUZ is starting to become the nemesis of one of the best teams in the world.
“Once might be a coincidence,” torzsi said to open his post-match interview with HLTV. “The second time maybe we just played well or something, but the third time I think it's a statement. I think we've shown we can beat the best teams in the world.”
With another playoff spot approaching, torzsi sat down with HLTV for an interview, speaking in depth about their win over Spirit and MOUZ's steady growth over the course of the season.
Q: Congratulations. Tell me about that series from your perspective.
A: Yes, thank you. I think this match was really good for us. Of course the first map was a disaster, I think we just weren't mentally there at all. We spent a long time here in the studio, because we came before the Liquid match, and then they came back and played a third map. I think we were just a bit out of rhythm, but of course that's no excuse. Yes, we got completely destroyed on Nuke.
I'm really happy to see how we picked ourselves up mentally and locked in, and that showed on the last two maps as well. We fought for it. On Dust2 we played really well, we read where they were going, yeah, we played great rounds. They won the pistol in the first half and started 3-0, while we ended the first half leading 7-5, and then we converted on the T side. We played really well. xertioN played really well, his calling was great, he led the team well, yeah, that was amazing.
I think Mirage was really close. At 10-10 we decided to force buy, and then had to come back from 12-10. We took it to overtime, and then won it. We won three rounds on the T side, I think, or the CT side, I'm not sure. But yeah, it was a close game, but I think it shows that our mentality is very, very strong.
Q: Toward the end of Mirage, when they were on the T side, donk started to heat up, getting consecutive double opening kills on the T side, did you start to feel pressure, like 'oh my god, donk is activated now'?
A: Actually, no. I don't think we're really afraid of him. We know he's an important part of their game, but I think we usually control him pretty well. He played really well on Mirage and, of course, got a lot of kills.
There were probably about two rounds where he got double opening kills, in one of them we misunderstood the call or something, I don't know, Spinx and I both died at Window. That was a spot where we played a bit poorly, but in another round he went to Connector or Catwalk, I'm not sure, and then he double-killed the guys on A, he has really good aim. But yeah, I don't think him heating up or anything puts pressure on us.
Map 3 Mirage, can't win even with donk's 1.93 Rating
Q: This is starting to become a trend now, MOUZ beating Spirit. It feels like you really have their number. I think BLAST Porto was the only time they beat you this season, apart from that you've won every time against them. What do you think the reason is?
A: Yes. Like you said, we've beaten them three times in a row now. I think this match, for us, was mainly about this... The first time could have been a coincidence, the second time maybe we just played well or something, but the third time I think it's a statement. I think we showed that we can be the best team in the world, or that we can definitely compete with them, you know?
Like you said, we have their number, I think it's because we have a very good understanding of how they play. We usually have very, very good preparation, I think sycrone, xertioN and Xyp9x always have good ideas to target them or play against them.
We just know how to bully donk a little, not give him too much space. Of course sometimes he can still pop off, like on Mirage, but overall we understand really well how they like to play, and what we need to target against them. I think that's why we've got them figured out.
Q: I think in the past a lot of people would say you had a mental block against top teams, especially in these close matches. Do you think you yourselves are starting to have that kind of status now? You're winning these close matches, certain teams just can't beat you, like Spirit really struggles. Do you think you're starting to build that kind of status?
A: Yes, I think we are doing that. This season I think we've reached three grand finals. We won one and lost two, yes, we keep beating Spirit. So yes, I think we're improving, and we're also earning that status. And they trash-talked us before the last map, so I think winning that Mirage was a good response to them.