XTQZZZ on Vitality without apEX: "I do believe we are going to change some roles"

Team Vitality are undoubtedly the best team of all time, but right now they're in a sort of flux. Things aren't going completely their way for the first time in a long time, and missing different players each event isn't helping either. There's a light at the end of the tunnel, though, and things are going well so far in Porto.

Vitality's slightly intimidating - and incredibly decorated - coach XTQZZZ spoke to Horizzon before the playoffs about changing roles, their disappointing start and how they manage to always lock in.

To start with the easy question, how are you feeling?

Better, a bit tired from the schedule we had. We traveled yesterday in the morning. Playing the first game and then the last game, etc. So we were a bit exhausted. Oh, plus the EWC.

So, that's normal, like every team, huh.

But I'm happy because we had a sh*t start- sorry to say it like that, but it's true- and then we bounced back as a team. We played better; we are in the playoffs that was the first goal. Now my expectations are not in terms of result, but more in terms of how we're gonna play.

I was gonna ask you about the start; you had a sh*t start, to use your words. How do you reset after that?

We were a bit lucky with the schedule of BLAST because basically at the beginning you have one day an official, and one day off.

So for us, we had some talks about what went wrong and how we want to improve. Individually, we are not there, as a team, we are not there. We are in between. That was the main thing. We wanted to make sure, with more practice with Justinas (jL) first, because we had only three practices with him before the tournament --- three or four, I don't remember exactly --- and to make sure he's more comfortable and that we, as a team, can react, and that's basically what we did.

For your practice with him, I assume you're practicing with the roles you're playing at this event and not looking further than that?

Just roles; for apEX it will be different, but for mezii it was the easiest. As I said, three practices if you change positions, so he has to adapt to new positions, utility, strats, maybe another guy in a different position, nah.

Out of curiosity, ignore the roles in the server, how is the social dynamic different?

laughs You know FlameZ and apex can be crazy. Three guys who are social is insane, it's crazy, honestly, it's crazy.

He wants to enjoy, he wants to give his best, he wants to prove. I think he's really happy about how our group works so far. He told me "I can be myself" I think that's nice it's the most important. As a player, he can do way more, but I can understand why he doesn't dare to do it, because he's new and doesn't have a lot of experience with us, but we tried the stuff and apEX especially, even the other players, are pushing him to be himself also in game.

So far he did a really good, he can be proud of himself. We wanted playoffs for the VRS, but also for him to enjoy it; he earned it. So it's nice.

You said you had low expectations in terms of results, what do you want to see at this event, what do you want to see the guys do to still walk away happy?

We wanted playoffs first, even more after the first game. Also, we know we are in big trouble with the VRS. So we were like, we have a stand-in, it's hard, but we have to go to the playoffs. Now it's like of course we want to win, but the only expectation is to play even better. It's our main issue right now.

As I said a couple of times, now we always play really good, or really bad, we don't have a B or C game. And I hope that, if let's say tomorrow we have a though day, we find some sort of solutions to finally close the game out.

It's interesting you say it that way because against Legacy on the final map you had a 6-6 half and then you took over. What is it that regardless of the roster, you guys seem to be able to lock-in and close out a game. What is it about this roster? Is that apEX's ability to focus the team, is it just the practice?

I think it was that we just didn't give up at all. We wanted to fight, with the MR12 you have a chance to comeback, you have a chance to win no matter what. It happened many times, we were losing 11-1 and did a comeback against NAVI. Even on Nuke against Legacy this tournament, you have a chance.

What happened lately: when we had a chance, I don't wanna say we didn't believe, but we didn't give our best to come back. Or, just basically playing the round.

It was harder for us to reset properly, and if you don't reset properly in MR12, as it is right now, you have no chance against any teams in the top 20, top 30, whatever.

We just needed to understand what we have to do mentally. The problem is that when you have issues with your game plan or your confidence, you forget what you have to do as a team. I think unfortunately that was the main problem. It's still the main problem; we can not say it's resolved because we're playing with a stand-in. That is the main reason behind it.

You guys have a big change coming up, with apEX leaving for a bit, have you already decided who's going to IGL, or is that under wraps?

Of course, it was just a joke with NER0, I think, from HLTV, but yes. It's no problem to say it'll be Mezii.

About that, a lot of what flameZ told me at Rotterdam is that apEX makes him feel very comfortable; he throws a lot of great util to set him up. How difficult is that going to be to replace for FlameZ, and how much will that impact his game, if at all?

It's from Rotterdam, you said?

I think since Rotterdam FlameZ now knows how to ask for things, support, etc. So it's different. I don't think it's going to be a big problem.

It's going to be more for CT, for example on Inferno, how you have to take banana, etc. Using utility, it's apEX. For me, it's more a problem on CT than T-side, because even on CT, yes, of course you see apEX use a lot of utility, but he's also controlling, making sure we are connected, making sure we have a mid-round, and that we make a decision. That is going to be the main issue. On T, we will have to find a way to be comfortable as a team, also for William (mezii). But I know FlameZ is going to help; he has the staff, of course, behind with the game plan and stuff we can bring, so it's going to be difficult.

But for me, it's more about the CT; I do believe we are going to change some roles, probably. jL is not a main rotation guy, you need to call, you need to talk a lot. So probably yes, maybe not on all maps, but we need to change a bit.

Thank you for your time