KSCERATO: We want to win Katowice and win another trophy before FalleN retires.
FURIA's atmosphere had been affected by the pressure of a nonstop run of events, but after the team talk yesterday, things were "much better" in the match against 9z.
FURIA have played a lot of CS. The toll is becoming clear, both on and off the server. The team is still trying to make the most of its final months with FalleN, but the uncertainty over what comes next without him is now compounded by physical and mental fatigue. KSCERATO stressed that the team "loves this life" and that they were "born for this life." That does not mean everything is always easy.
“This doesn’t even count as a day off, because I’ve got a fucking media day!” — KSCERATO
yuurih had previously told Dust2 Brasil that the players “complain” too often. When FalleN was asked on an ESL Pro League broadcast which player was the best for the team’s mood, he replied: “I don’t know who the good one is, but they can all be the bad one.” “It’s difficult,” KSCERATO admitted—and qualifying with a 3-2 record meant the team did not even get a day off, with media day scheduled for Thursday, much to the Brazilian’s frustration.
He added: “When frustration starts to show, you can’t handle it the way you used to. Because you’re mentally exhausted, it just snowballs. So we improved at this event, especially in this match, but we were still complaining a bit and losing focus.”
Q: Congratulations on beating 9z. It looks like you’ve really got their number as a team now.
A: Yes. I'm really happy we won the match and made the playoffs. It'll be my first time playing on the main stage at Spodek Arena. I've never played on stage in Katowice before, so I'm very happy.
Q: What’s it like getting into the tournament mindset? We know your schedule has been crazy, and you still have to stay locked in through all of it. What has that been like?
A: It’s hard, bro. I’m not going to lie—it’s hard to stay focused, because there are so many high-pressure events, so many matches, and so much travel. So it’s a bit difficult, but we’re trying to manage it by not practicing too much, staying true to ourselves, and relaxing a little, because it really is hard. But that’s how it is—we love this life. We were made for this life. I’m proud of it. That’s it.
Q: How does that affect your performance on the server? When you're almost constantly tired on a subconscious level, does it have a big impact on things like discipline?
A: I think it affects decision-making more than anything else. If you do not get enough rest, you cannot make the best decisions you are capable of making, the decisions you need to make. So we talked a lot within the team about decision-making, because that becomes difficult when you are mentally exhausted. But we did our best. That is it.
Q: When it comes to FalleN's retirement, the comparison I can make is Liverpool. When Jürgen Klopp announced six months before actually stepping down that he would retire, it felt like it gave the team a short-term boost of energy. But in the long run, it seemed almost impossible to keep the motivation going. Does it feel that way now?
A: I'm fucking tired of talking about FalleN retiring, man... But I mean, it depends on how you see the impact his decision has on you. I feel like I'm giving everything to help give his career the best possible ending, and trying to win a trophy is the most important thing. But I think we're just living normally. Taking it day by day, and unfortunately, one day it will all come to an end.
Q: So how does that affect you? We know you've played nearly 1,700 maps for FURIA already, but your contract runs until next summer. Does that uncertainty affect you at all?
A: Well, we'll have to see. My contract expires next summer, around the middle of the player break. So that does have an impact... FalleN and I have talked about it a lot, and we'll see what happens. We don't know what the future holds, but I hope my heart makes the right choice.
Q: Alright. Thank you. So, how does the team feel about things in-game right now, especially when it comes to the map pool? Because we know that after all this travel, you’re playing a lot of maps now. What has that been like?
A: It’s difficult because we don’t have much time to practice. Recently, I don’t know, over the past month, we’ve only practiced 10 maps. It’s hard for us to practice because we’re always traveling from event to event, so our practice comes in the matches themselves. We don’t have much time to work on tactics and things like that. So it’s difficult, but I think we’re pretty confident. Even without time to practice, I think we come in with the mindset that it’s going to work, and then we make it work.
Q: About molodoy, I spoke with him before this event, and he basically said, "I want to become more aggressive again." How does the team try to preserve that aggression while also making sure he makes smart decisions?
A: I think it’s fine for him to play more aggressively, but he has to get the team organized around that plan. If he does it on his own, then it’s just hero plays, that kind of thing. But he’s improving every day, and I think we’re understanding more and more how he wants to play. We’re also trying to help him make a play here and there and get the team working with him.
Q: In another Dust2 Brasil interview I read, yuurih said—and I think FalleN mentioned it on the analyst desk as well—that sometimes the team complains too much during matches. How has that been at this event? Has the in-game atmosphere improved?
A: Like I said, we've played a lot of tournaments and traveled a lot, so mentally, we're... it's hard. When frustration sets in, you can't handle it the way you used to because you're mentally exhausted. It snowballs. We improved at this event, especially in this match, but we're still complaining a bit and losing focus instead of concentrating on the next round or the next step. But yeah, I think we just need to understand ourselves. We had a really good talk about it yesterday, and it was much better today.
Q: Alright. So for the playoffs, you’ll have at least one day off. What would leave you satisfied when you leave Katowice?
A: Uh, bro, this isn’t a day off because I’ve got a fucking media day. But it’s fine. We’ll get a bit of rest. What were you asking about Katowice just now?
Q: In terms of results or performance, what would leave you satisfied when you walk away?
A: I want to win this tournament because it’s the only one FalleN hasn’t won, so that would be nice, right? To finish with every trophy.